Legal to Unlock Your Cell Phone

by admin

Story link: Legal to Unlock Your Cell Phone

There is a little known law in effect as of Nov, 2006.  The media didn’t jump on it, even after all the commotion about the iPhone and AT&T.  If I was more paranoid, I would think there was a conspiracy between the media and the cell phone companies.

As everyone who as ever bought a cell phone knows, you have to use the service where you bought the phone.  The cell phone service providers are so determined to get your money that they lock the phones that they sell so that the phones will only work for them.  If you didn’t realize that, then I’m sure you heard about it when the iPhone came out.  It was a race to see which hacker would be able to unlock the iPhone first.

Some owners have been hesitant to try and unlock the phones they have purchased.  Many figured it was illegal.  The truth is that it is NOT illegal.  The Library of Congress announced that there are six exceptions to DMCA rules - including one that declares breaking SIM locks will not be considered a violation (at least for the next three years).

This is almost good news.  While it may not be illegal to unlock your phone, Apple has already found a way to make it almost impossible.  Update programs for the Apple iPhone are designed to (and even if it wasn’t specifically designed that way) shut down any unlocked phones.