McDonald's the corp isn't hurt by this, individual franchise owners bear the cost. In particular, mcdonald's the corp mandates the particular icecream machine that is used, rather than allowing the franchise owner to pick from several machines. The video argues that this is done because mcdonald's is interested in benefiting the company that makes and services the ice cream machines.

Given the meme is already circulating among the youth with McDonalds ice cream being the bottom of the joke, and given it reached the top of HN many times already, I say this hurts McDonalds image a lot.

When people think about “broken like a McDonalds ice cream machine”, I think McD can legitimately ask Taylor for damages at corporate level.

On the face of it, McDonald's corp should also be harmed by this. It makes their customers less successful through higher costs & lower sales, and it tarnishes their brand when a customer of their customers is unable to purchase an ice cream.

The two questions in my mind after watching:

1. What makes McDonald's corp okay with it?

2. What is the difference between the arrangement with McDonald's and the other franchises/chains? (Wendy's, In'n'Out, etc.)

McDonald's Corp owns are significant number of restaurants directly. Most are franchises, but not all. Thus the company is directly hurt.

This feels more like someone not in the know of the real problems finding a false complaint that seems worse than it is.

I’ve seen franchisors collect kick backs from vendors for being an “approved vendor” the franchisee has to use.

Pretty sure McDonald's is fully aware of this and deserves a large portion of the blame.