A change to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act that makes it illegal for consumers to unlock their mobile devices without the permission of their carrier goes into effect Saturday.
Carriers lock smartphones -- which they typically subsidize in the U.S. -- as a way to prevent their customers from getting a cellular plan with a different company.
Users unlock phones when they want to switch carriers, sometimes after the phone's original contract has run out, or so they can use it when going abroad.
The change was made because the Librarian of Congress determined that consumers have a number of alternatives to unlocking devices, including buying devices that come already unlocked.
Users who want to unlock their devices before it becomes illegal at midnight can head over to iFixit, which opposes the change and has a variety of links on how to unlock phones.
"For many users, unlocking a phone is a necessary fix, opening up a feature and freedom that people need to effectively use their devices," a blog post by iFixit says. "The Copyright Office’s decision to outlaw this right of ownership hurts users and further empowers carriers to trap consumers."
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Not the first law I disagree with. Also not the first law that I would have no objection breaking. And, strangely, not the first time I thought our laws are in serious need of overhaul.
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I should have the freedom to unlock my phone if I choose to and I do. However the article seems to be geared toward buying a phone from one company and using it with another. While I can't say yeah or na on this I can say that We should not have to be locked into phones that only our carrier has. Where is the freedom of choice there? I have a rooted phone because well hell I can. I have a carrier phone and have stayed with the carrier why well hell because I can. If we allow them to keep taking our rights away even as consumers it will never stop. We must fight this and the rest of the ridiculous laws that hinder us from being free.
It seems to me that the government is contradicting itself. They upheld the idea that we are allowed to root/jailbreak our phones legally (though still nay on tablets), which is obviously a bigger security risk than sim unlocking. In this ruling, to me, the government says we own our phones and thus this is our right. This new law/decision to me says that the carriers own our devices and we're just leasing them, even if we buy them outright without the subsidy. So which is it?
I'm making a video montage of people's opinions about the new law. So if you'd like to be included in the video montage, please record yourself and send me a private message.
Last edited by EarlyMon; January 27th, 2013 at 01:57 AM.
From what I've read it's only unlocking the phone to switch the networks. So you buy the phone from [x] company but unlock it and use it on [y] company. Unlocking bootloaders and rooting is still good.
It's the way it was introduced that's fundamentally wrong. NO debate or vote anywhere to be seen. All to prop up an increasingly broken business model.
Anyway, once out of contract, why should the carrier care what you do with your old phone? In the UK, Carphone Warehouse sells mainly unlocked phones, with whatever SIM you choose (No CDMA over here).
I'm on Virgin Mobile, and currently have 2 phones on contract. For the main one , as a Virgin Broadband/Tivo customer, for Ł20 per month for 2 years I get 600 minutes, 1Gb data and unlimited texts plus a Sony Xperia U.
Let's cost that 20 X 24 = 480.
Xperia U on VM PAYG = 102
So, that's each month 600Mins + 1GB data + insurance for Ł378/24 = Ł15:75 per month
PAYG Big Talk Ł15 per month gets you 120 Mins, unlimited texts but NO data. minutes after 120 charged @ 26p
Contract doesn't seem so bad, does it?
for an extra Ł5.00 per month I get a phone, way more minutes and 1Gb data.
Re: Unlocking smartphones without permission illegal after today
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rxpert83
Another one just cropped up in the android lounge
I say a few of these will be popping up around the place.
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I'm wondering if the passage of this law only makes switching carriers illegal; does it extend to getting your devices S-OFF or unlocking the boot loader?
I'm wondering if the passage of this law only makes switching carriers illegal; does it extend to getting your devices S-OFF or unlocking the boot loader?
It seems that it only refers to the unlocking of your device for use on other carriers. Rooting and unlocking the bootloader seem to still be fair game, legal wise. Carriers will say different
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Re: Unlocking smartphones without permission illegal after today
Now i have a question on this law . Now since some tablets are under this phone tower if you can unlock a tablet does this apply. And how is this showing up on the phone company cause i been told that the phone maker is not connected with the phone company . For example the samsung s3 is sold under 3 companies if i buy tmobile and decide to unlock and use on at&t how will they know.samsung say the phone carrier is a third wheel
I'm wondering if the passage of this law only makes switching carriers illegal; does it extend to getting your devices S-OFF or unlocking the boot loader?
You can still root your phone and you can still switch carriers by getting your carrier to unlock the phone.
You all have probably heard of this by now, and frankly i got a little worried when I read the news this morning. As the link here will show you, it has now become illegal to unlock cellphones and your carrier could potentially turn you in (although the chances are very slim) if they detect an unlocked device.
What I wanted to know is whether this ban is only limited to unlocking phones and switching carriers or whether it also affects things like getting S-OFF or unlocking the boot loader
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Quote:
Originally Posted by necromage9
You all have probably heard of this by now, and frankly i got a little worried when I read the news this morning. As the link here will show you, it has now become illegal to unlock cellphones and your carrier could potentially turn you in (although the chances are very slim) if they detect an unlocked device.
What I wanted to know is whether this ban is only limited to unlocking phones and switching carriers or whether it also affects things like getting S-OFF or unlocking the boot loader
This only applies to unlocking your phone for another carrier.
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There's a pretty comprehensive article about this here, and it really doesn't sound like it's much to get excited about. There are still provisions to buy unlocked devices, get them unlocked by the carrier, or unlock them yourself if they don't. And it has nothing to do with unlocking bootloaders to get root and S-OFF.
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I'm sure passing a law making it illegal to unlock a phone will have as much effect as passing a law making it illegal to download copyrighted material did.
The change was made because the Librarian of Congress determined that consumers have a number of alternatives to unlocking devices, including buying devices that come already unlocked.
So is it just me who thinks, wait, what if I have a perfectly good device that I spent a lot of money on but want to switch carriers? I should just toss it and spend MORE MONEY buying a different phone? Why?
So is it just me who thinks, wait, what if I have a perfectly good device that I spent a lot of money on but want to switch carriers? I should just toss it and spend MORE MONEY buying a different phone? Why?
No your supposed to contact your carrier and ask them to unlock it. Depending on how much you spent with them they may charge you or unlock it for free.
If you have bought the device outright (My SGS4g) they should unlock upon request.
It's been totally paid for, and if I leave, TMO can charge an ETF, but no phone.
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Re: Unlocking smartphones without permission illegal after 01/25/13
Quote:
Originally Posted by Liamo_210
No your supposed to contact your carrier and ask them to unlock it. Depending on how much you spent with them they may charge you or unlock it for free.
Or I can cut out the middle man and do it myself.
My money. My property. My decision.
would not matter if it was unlocked or not. some phones only work on certain carriers regardless. i cannot use a CDMA phone on a GSM network, or vice versa, for example. which means my otherwise good LG Optimus V is still a paperweight or a very dinky wifi-only phablet
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I don't see the problem here. If you sign a contract, you agree with what the contract says. It's simple. And that includes the impending charges and what not.
I don't think someone should be allowed to just, on a whim, dicide to change carriers if they got a discount. In these days of information the consumer has the ability to find what a phone costs with out a contract and with a contract, and thus make an informed disision. I knew that if I bought my phone that it would save me in less than a year. I have no desire to take this phone somewhere else.
It's not like the (I can't call it a law as it's a ruling) ruling is to stop the carriers from unlocking the phone after the conditions of the contract have been met. It's to stop the, very few, people from benefiting from breaking the contract.
I don't have a problem with it if the phone is subsidized. If you buy it outright, you should be able to do what you want with it. Also, it should be mandatory for the carrier to unlock the phone upon request when the contract is up, therefore no longer being subsidized. If you pay off the ETF it should be yours, too.
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Re: Illegal to unlock phones as of today?
As others have posted, it's just about getting the sim unlock code without the carrier's consent, rooting and jailbreaking phones is specifically exempt from the DCMA, however tablets aren't.
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I don't see why carriers need this law when they have early termination fees already in place. If you finish the contract then it shouldn't be an issue for you or the carrier to unlock the device and if you buy one off contract you should be able to do as you wish with your property.
Re: Unlocking smartphones without permission illegal after 01/25/13
Quote:
Originally Posted by JunBringer
I don't see why carriers need this law when they have early termination fees already in place. If you finish the contract then it shouldn't be an issue for you or the carrier to unlock the device and if you buy one off contract you should be able to do as you wish with your property.
Because what happens is people get their fancy discounted new phone, don't pay the bill and then hop carriers to a prepaid network where its much cheaper.
You would be right, but people don't follow through with their contracts, so the carriers need it.
Re: Unlocking smartphones without permission illegal after 01/25/13
thanks i have not heard of it happening here. years ago you was stuck in a contract with carrier here and no way out then markets and back street shops started unlocking them cost a lot to. now you can just go online and get the info.
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This is your government hard at work. Instead of fixing things like the debt ceiling (delaying it is not fixing) and working together, they are wasting their time to pass laws to benefit big business.
Telcos already have early termination fees that supposed to pay for the subsidy on the phone. Either through the ETF or fullfilling the contract, you own that phone and should be able to do anything you want with it.
I guess the lobbyist dumped a lot of money in to politicians pockets. Just another grievance that keeps the telcos and politicians among the most hated around...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rxpert83
Because what happens is people get their fancy discounted new phone, don't pay the bill and then hop carriers to a prepaid network where its much cheaper.
You would be right, but people don't follow through with their contracts, so the carriers need it.
Because as we all know, the carriers are losing money and will not survive another year.
I'm sorry, but I have little to no sympathy for the carriers. This law is nothing more than greed, pure & simple. And the way they treat their customers is something that should be made illegal. Hell, now if you complain too much to them, they will terminate your contract.
I say if one can find a better deal with another carrier, then go for it.
Re: Unlocking smartphones without permission illegal after 01/25/13
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kamau
Because as we all know, the carriers are losing money and will not survive another year.
I'm sorry, but I have little to no sympathy for the carriers. This law is nothing more than greed, pure & simple. And the way they treat their customers is something that should be made illegal. Hell, now if you complain too much to them, they will terminate your contract.
I say if one can find a better deal with another carrier, then go for it.
If Google comes out with a more reasonable wireless service.. The other carriers will have to start acting more reasonable
Ok so let me get this straight.....the Librarian of Congress changed this law?A F'ING LIBRARIAN!?So I guess the ruling of the Supreme Court doesn't mean anything anymore.I don't see how one person has the power to do that.I see this article was from the LA Times so I'm sure they got something wrong in that write up.I've been interviewed by them before and my gf will tell you they DO misquote people very easily.The LA Times reporter I was interviewed by reminds me of the kid from the movie The Stupids starring Tom Arnold.
Re: Unlocking smartphones without permission illegal after 01/25/13
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kamau
Because as we all know, the carriers are losing money and will not survive another year.
I'm sorry, but I have little to no sympathy for the carriers. This law is nothing more than greed, pure & simple. And the way they treat their customers is something that should be made illegal. Hell, now if you complain too much to them, they will terminate your contract.
I say if one can find a better deal with another carrier, then go for it.
I never said anything about any of the carriers financial situations. Frankly it doesn't matter. People signed a contract agreeing to certain terms, they should fulfill it.
This is only here to enforce that contract that people signed. Theres no real power to a contract that you can decide you don't like after they've given you a huge discount on your phone
I'm making a video montage of people's opinions about the new law. So if you'd like to be included in the video montage, please record yourself and send me a private message.
MY opinion is it is a bad ruling for most of us. I do not believe the change will hamper JB/Rooter/Unlockers much. You will likely be able to find the tools you need tomorrow as you can today.
How will it affect this forum? We do not like to talk about torrents or game ROMS; they are clearly not allowed. So do the mods have a week ahead of them purging the AF forum links to the available tools?
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Unlocking smartphones without permission illegal in US after 01/25/13
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to show it.
Attention---Unlocking Cell "NOW" illegal
