Jailbreaking Just Became Legal
Shannon Suetos
July 28, 2010
Yes, you read correctly jailbreaking is now legal—if you have an iPhone that is. The "U.S. Copyright Office, a division of the Library of Congress, has authorized several new exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), one of which will allow mobile phone users to "jailbreak" -- or hack into -- their devices to use apps not authorized by the phone's manufacturer. The new rules will be published on Tuesday in the Federal Register," reports CNN Money.
Although most are reporting about the iPhone, the law is actually for any wireless telephone devices, and states, "computer programs that enable wireless telephone handsets to execute software applications, where circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of enabling interoperability of such applications, when they have been lawfully obtained, with computer programs on the telephone handset."
What This Could Mean for Businesses
With the popularity of businesses creating their own apps, you could possible now create an app and not have to worry about getting it approved by Apple for people to download. Many developers have complained over the years about the waiting periods to be approved for an app.
People have been jailbreaking their phones for a while now, but with the governments stamp of approval, it may be easier for you to get the go ahead on an app. Before if you jailbroke your phone you potentially were at risk for some hefty fines. "Apple technically had the right to request a $2,500 government fine for damages every time a user violated the law that bans "circumvention of technological measures" controlling access to copyrighted works -- in this case, the iPhone's iOS software."
Possible Downside
According to an article written by Neil Mcallister of Infoworld, "AT&T likes to complain that dropped calls on its network are because iPhone users are gobbling up too much bandwidth. Apple is apparently listening; if your app is too network-centric, it's likely to be rejected. That's why Internet radio apps are off-limits (when they're not duplicating core iPhone functionality, that is)."
If more people create these types of apps, it could create some real problems for all AT&T customers—iPhone users or not. Apple is already getting enough flack for their iPhone 4G not having good enough reception, if new apps slow down AT&T´s network who knows what could happen.
Other Provisions
Although the news jailbreaking your iPhone is great, there are 5 other points the updated regulation covers. These provisions allow you:
Although most are reporting about the iPhone, the law is actually for any wireless telephone devices, and states, "computer programs that enable wireless telephone handsets to execute software applications, where circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of enabling interoperability of such applications, when they have been lawfully obtained, with computer programs on the telephone handset."
What This Could Mean for Businesses
With the popularity of businesses creating their own apps, you could possible now create an app and not have to worry about getting it approved by Apple for people to download. Many developers have complained over the years about the waiting periods to be approved for an app.
People have been jailbreaking their phones for a while now, but with the governments stamp of approval, it may be easier for you to get the go ahead on an app. Before if you jailbroke your phone you potentially were at risk for some hefty fines. "Apple technically had the right to request a $2,500 government fine for damages every time a user violated the law that bans "circumvention of technological measures" controlling access to copyrighted works -- in this case, the iPhone's iOS software."
Possible Downside
According to an article written by Neil Mcallister of Infoworld, "AT&T likes to complain that dropped calls on its network are because iPhone users are gobbling up too much bandwidth. Apple is apparently listening; if your app is too network-centric, it's likely to be rejected. That's why Internet radio apps are off-limits (when they're not duplicating core iPhone functionality, that is)."
If more people create these types of apps, it could create some real problems for all AT&T customers—iPhone users or not. Apple is already getting enough flack for their iPhone 4G not having good enough reception, if new apps slow down AT&T´s network who knows what could happen.
Other Provisions
Although the news jailbreaking your iPhone is great, there are 5 other points the updated regulation covers. These provisions allow you:
- To bypass video game protections in order to investigate or correct security flaws
- For college professors, film students and documentary filmmakers to break the copy-protect measures on DVDs for embedding clips for educational purposes, criticism or in noncommercial videos
- To bypass the use of external dongles if the dongle no longer works
- For used cell phone owners to unlock phones so that they can be switched to another wireless carrier (this was a renewal of a 2006 exemption)
Shannon Suetos is an expert writer on time clock software based in San Diego, California. She writes extensively for an online resource that provides expert advice on purchasing and outsourcing decisions for small business owners and entrepreneurs such as time card software at Resource Nation.
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