Jailbreaking Phones Could Become Illegal Again

[jkflipflop98]

[citation][nom]rawful[/nom]The real question is this.... what makes our government think they have the authority to make laws regarding this issue? I don't recall the section of the Constitution on jailbreaking your smartphone.[/citation]

. . . and that's why the constitution is obsolete. It's served us well for a very, very long time. Now it's time to retire her to her display case in the national archive and draft a new guiding document.

 

[poxenium]

You never fully own an Apple product ... at least not legally.

 

[face-plants]

"Essentially users wouldn't be able to get rid of the bloatware-ridden version of Android and replace it with a clean, untainted version. It would mean that iPhone and iPod Touch users wouldn't be able to download and install apps released outside Apple's prison walls."

Didn't we just hear about something like 60% or more of phones coming with what was basically spyware/tracking software loaded from the factory? I can't imagine that being the reality and having no way to fight it.

Seriously, congress and the rest of our government needs to get a %#$#* clue about technology before writing legislation like this and the now semi-crippled PIPA.

Has anyone watched the actual coverage of congress discussing and trying to explain PIPA? At least 8 different congressmen began their statements by saying: "I'm not a nerd but I think..." or "We should really get the nerds in here to explain this better...."

First off, nerd is usually a term of endearment for me but not from these ignorant clods. The appropriate term they need to be using is 'Experts' and it's a usually a good idea to consult such experts regarding anything you're writing legislation about. It's so blatantly obvious that they are letting lobbyists and corporate lawyers come in and write legislation that they are absolutely clueless about. I almost wish I could have seen PIPA go through (if it could have been only effective for a short time) just to see them shat themselves when they see they broke the entire internet.

 

[face-plants]

This bears repeating...

[citation][nom]king smp[/nom]Pointless waste of timeUnemployment at incredible ratesStill at war TerrorismPeople starving99 weekers with no money to feed their familyCrime rates raisinga 4000 page healthcare reform that was rushed into law and NOBODY understandsand our government is worried about jailbreaking an Iphone?!they just love to distract us from the real issuesTime for them to get to workand stop it with silly nonsense like thisWhere are our priorities in this country?some kid just starved to death today in our countrybut lets worry about jailbreaking?![/citation]

 

[livebriand]

They do realize that people WILL keep jailbreaking regardless of the law, right? And what's wrong with jailbreaking? I paid for my device, and I want to do what I want with it. If I buy an HP machine, I can run Ubuntu on it rather than the stock Windows 7 install. There's nothing wrong with that? So why is jailbreaking illegal?

 

[wardoc22]

I have the FBI and CIA on me right now from making my icons transparent. OOO, scary

 

[martel80]

[citation][nom]mrmaia[/nom]The device is MINE, and I decide what to do with it in my sole discretion.[/citation]But don't forget that, in order to use the device on the US cellular network, the device needs to be certified.
Once you modify your device, it's possible that the certification is invalidated and you're operating an unsanctioned device within the network. I'm not sure how it's in US but where I live, this is punishable (usually fines, not jail).

 

[rantoc]

[citation][nom]wild9[/nom]Let's say it's done by an illegal immigrant. How are you going to apprehend them? How do you even know who is in your own country, judging by the sheer scale of the illegal immigration problem in North America. This government has no clue whatsoever who is coming across it's own borders, who they're bringing, and what they intend to do once they cross. Anything goes. This is made much worse by this administrations indifference to the issue, it's lack of back-bone and it's pro-corporate policies that allow this situation to fester. But know this: if an American does it, it's the crime of the century.[/citation]

Part of the American industry wouldn't even work if it wasn't for the slave-like conditions the illegal immigrants have there, very low salary and extremely long working passes. For a normal worker that is a problem because if takes jobs away as well as undermine the unions ect that work to get fair pay for their members. Do you think the rich guy at the top want that to change, no... that's why nothing happens there and the politicians who is suppose to represent the masses not the top 1% do nothing.

However enforcing this is more likely to happen because the top 1% want "our" politicians to do something about it.

 

[wiyosaya]

In my opinion, this is a stupid law. The assumption with the whole DCMA crap is that anyone doing anything prohibited in the law will be doing so with malicious intent. Not everyone who engages in acts that are illegal under DCMA is doing so with malicious intent.

As I see it, what lawmakers ought to do is open a window in the law. If anyone does something against the DCMA on something they paid for and their intent is not malicious, then it should be legal.

In the days when I was a kid, and even now as an adult, one of the best ways to learn can be by deconstructing something. Now we have "jerks" out there that make it almost impossible for the small person to innovate.

 

[Guest]

I think its about time we modified our government deleted all the bloatware and deodex that shit, those scum work for us not apple.

 

[eyemaster]

Sounds like we're just leasing those devices, not really buying them. In that case, we shouldn't be paying hundreds of dollars for them.

 

[billybobser]

Paying for internet access via phone, not allowed to use it.

Makes sense.

 

[egmccann]

If they want to say it voids the warranty - fine. That's within their right.
If they want to say they will not support the phone in a jailbroken state - understandable. They can't control what a third party may do (or the user may botch) in that situation.

But that's a long stretch from "illegal." And if the user bought the phone outright (instead of doing the subsidized "$0-50 for the phone, sign a 2-3 year contract" bit,) there should be even fewer restrictions.

(Me, personally... I don't care. Don't own a smartphone. Don't want one. Give me one with buttons with numbers that makes calls reliably.)

 

[fb39ca4]

i dont give a crap im jailbreaking anyways.

 

[phil8192]

[citation][nom]rawful[/nom]The real question is this.... what makes our government think they have the authority to make laws regarding this issue? I don't recall the section of the Constitution on jailbreaking your smartphone.[/citation]

It's the Obama government — the closest thing to tyranny Americans have experienced in their history, and with these crony capitalists (~fascists) in power, it will only get worse.

 

[Guest]

The Presidency doesn't factor into this at all. The Man in the Chair doesn't operate in a vacuum. The major issue in this country is the skewed sense of entitlement. I don't recall the book or the author, but to paraphrase, America has become a land that demands equal outcomes. We need to return to demanding equal opportunities.

But on the issue of jailbreaking/rooting, it's a circular argument at best. Personally, I think it should be legal. If you pay for the device, it's yours. Do with it as you will, provided what you do with it doesn't impose or impinge anyone else's rights. Jailbreaking a phone causes no harm to anyone. Prohibiting what an individual can do with their own property most certainly does. It's only a small step from "you can't do action x" to "you can no longer do action y" either. And if I paid for the damn thing, it's mine.

Apple has, for years, been the most arrogant of companies regarding their products. Sony's a pretty close second. Anyone remember unannounced DRM software on music cds? But I've solved this particular problem I have with Apple. I do not support them, or their products. I may not mean anything to that company as an individual. The price of an iPad/iPod/iPhone is a drop in the bucket for them, monetarily speaking. But it makes me feel better, not aiding and abetting corporate greed and stupidity.

 

[davidgermain]

So if i take my HP desktop win7 and put windows 8 on it - i have jailbroken the Desktop... what is the difference with a phone or console?

this law is really stupid.

 

[djridonkulus]

Thumbs up if you clicked this article because of the picture...

 

[izajasz]

america is a sick country . Those patents are a joke . Apple is blocking mobile phone progress (software and hardware) and they make patents for features taht they didnt invent liek T9 . Just recently in ios5 they copied features of android but nobody sues them. Only they have a right to sue everybody around them . soon apple will patent breathing. poor usa... They should cancel all patents or let them be for few years period and then delete them.

 

[izajasz]

P.S. i hate apple for the fact they sue everybody instead of makeing really brilliant devices that will crush others .And because of that i never bought/will buy any apple branded object.