AT&T Unleashes Lawyers on iPhone Hackers
Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:49AM EDT
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After a rash of reports over the weekend of hackers who managed to unlock the iPhone—ranging from the iPhoneSIMFree.com team to a 17-year-old kid in New Jersey—AT&T has unsurprisingly decided to rain on the parade, with a little help from its legal team.
So, all this begs the question: is it legal to unlock the iPhone? Engadget asked a copyright lawyer that very question, and got a rather nuanced answer. According to the attorney, iPhone unlockers are most likely protected by an exception in the DMCA (a law that prohibits the cracking of DRM schemes) that lets you unlock your own phone for the "sole purpose" of using it "lawfully" on a cellular network. However, you can't unlock a phone (including the iPhone) and then sell it; also, Apple and AT&T are free to sue you on the basis of other laws besides the DMCA (and they certainly have the resources—and the incentive—to do so). Bottom line? The lawyer seems to believe that you're probably in the clear as long as you're just unlocking your own iPhone and not selling it on Craigslist; then again, there's no telling what Apple and AT&T have up their legal sleeves. Also, on a practical note, keep in mind that unlocking the phone will probably violate your warranty, so if anything goes wrong, don't look for sympathy from the Apple Genius Bar.
Related:
AT&T Cracks Down On Commercial iPhone Unlocking Groups [Gizmodo]
Know Your Rights: Is it illegal to unlock my iPhone? [Engadget]
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2 Posted by tomthabom24 on Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:44PM EDT Report Abuse
I agree with the previous comment, if you buy it, do with it what you will. These companies don't mind ripping you off for the inflated price they charge. My thought, don't buy the piece of crap
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3 Posted by tboltz_01 on Tue Aug 28, 2007 5:18AM EDT Report Abuse
Simple question for all above...IS THE GLASS HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY? GET A TRANSLATIONAL DICIONARY AND LEARN THAT NOT EVERY PERSON MAY UNDERSTAND THE CODING ACROSS CONTINENTS. GIVE IT TIME! MC2
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4 Posted by unversomas on Tue Aug 28, 2007 5:18AM EDT Report Abuse
I HATED TO ADMITTED BUT I HAVE TO GIVE THIS ARGUMENT TO THE CORPORATIONS, WHEN WILL THE CONSUMER REALIZED THAT ANY PERSON OR ORGANIZATION SHOULD HAVE SOME CONTROL OF THEIR TECHNOLOGY OR INTELLECTUAL CREATIVITY, WITHOUT SOME PARASITE COMING ALONG AND WANTING TO PROFIT FROM YOUR IDEAS. GIVE ATT & APPLE A BREAK...
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5 Posted by att_suckz on Tue Aug 28, 2007 5:20AM EDT Report Abuse
At&t AND CINGULAR SUCKZ
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1 Posted by mikeybbadd3 on Mon Aug 27, 2007 12:45PM EDT Report Abuse
If you can't do what you want with a phone you paid big bucks for, I think they should shove it where the sun does'nt shine. I bought it I can do what I want with it.