Unlocking New Mobile Phones Becomes Illegal In the US
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/13/01/...he-us-tomorrow
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Okay...but, unlocking a phone opens up some security risks...so...
Just out of cat-killing-curiosity, just what would you accomplish with an unlocked phone? You want a mobile device completely to your needs, is'nt a laptop or netbook more suited to the task? Hey, it's friday nite here, so forgive me if I miss the point :) Thor |
I believe the point is that there is a question of ownership versus DCMA.
In common sense, you buy a phone. You should have the ability to do with it as you wish. Not unlike putting different tires on a car. What is being said is that you may no longer have the ability legally to crack or hack into your phone. Since I wouldn't waste my money on a phone I don't care. Many people may care if they wish to change carriers or OS or what not. |
Yeah...okay...but, if you (okay, I live in belgium, rules and mileage may vary :) ) put a way too strong engine in a medium car, dont you endanger your life? So, okay, you hack into your phone, the next bit is keeping that fact to your self. You may be owner of the phone, but not the provider's network...a network you could potientially endanger with a hacked phone...
In escence, nobody gives a w*nk if you hack (and potentially destroy) a perfectly good phone, it's the purpose they worry about... |
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For jailbreaking mobile devices, see:
https://www.eff.org/cases/2012-dmca-rulemaking It is still legal to jailbreak smartphones, but other mobile devices are not listed as being legal to jailbreak... |
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A quick look at Wikipedia suggests that the USA is the only country where you don't have the right to unlock a mobile phone. I'm not surprised. It also seems that most countries give you the right to demand the supplier unlock it when the initial contract is over. The UK doesn't, but that's no surprise either.
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It's what we call "freedom". Remember, freedom isn't free(dom).
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The higher the individual freedom, the less control...the more fear of loss of control, the more control is enforced. It all shows the level of strength of an authority, really...
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Now there's this article that says unlocking smartphones is illegal too:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/...-need-to-know/ What should I believe ? |
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..of course, that's what it says in the article further down... Quote:
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Pages 15-16 are most relevant:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/111227035/DMCA-Rules-2012 As a summary: 1) It is legal to jailbreak (modify the firmware of) smartphones. p. 15 2) "tablet" is too ambiguous, and so the DMCA exemption does NOT apply to tablets. i.e. It is illegal to jailbreak tablets. p. 15-16 3) It is illegal to unlock (ability to connect to alternative networks) new mobile phones. p. 16 From this I get that it is illegal to jailbreak tablets ! Is it true ? Can a lawyer confirm it ? |
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We have the same here in belgium...phones that are locked to one "vendor"...you buy a phone (sometimes pretty cheap) and a subscription to the service of that one vendor. It's a package deal. But, you also have "free" phones, be it somewhat more expensive, but you put your sim card of chouce in there, eg choose what operator you want to use with that phone... I did that, I got me a Samsung mini and kept my current subscription with Proximus, but...I can (not really inclined, Proximus is good :) ) swithc to a different operator... To me, this seems a law that wants to protect the providers rarther than the consumer, but...I'm not a lawyer... :D |
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Anyone that thinks this is bad has never seen just how locked down some providers in Canada keep their phones. |
Just wanted to add something here, surely a result of the law.
I have an android phone I purchased not to long ago on contract. The phone came with the ability to remove carrier bloat. Well, been waiting on a Jelly Bean update to the phone. Last night I get an update notification and I am eager to click the update. The update finishes and guess what? Not a Jelly Bean update but instead my carrier installed their bloat back on my phone and I am left with no way to delete it. So this law is a bunch of crap and now I have to stare at icons I never intend to use. I won't mention the carrier for obvious reasons but it starts with an A. Nexus 4 on order and buy out of contract cash on hand. |
This is wrong, unacceptable
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You can sign a petition against it, like it says here:
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/13/01/...locking-fiasco https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/pet...legal/1g9KhZG7 |
Just BS (the icons are irking me lol).
Like buying a house on a 30 year mortgage with bright pink walls and the bank saying you can't paint them until it's paid off. Like buying a gaming console on a credit card and it coming with Mickey Mouse adventures in Goomla and not having the ability to get other games until the card is paid off. As long as I am fulfilling my end of the contract, the phone should be mine. Sue me if I don't fulfill it. Don't make me stare at crap I don't want and or need. They lost a customer over this. I have to work out a way to pay five lines off. Well worth IMHO to get away from the evil empire we call carriers. |
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