A court ruling from the US copyright office this week has been causing a monumental stir in the mobile tech world…
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act looks at copyright issues every three years to update their copyright laws in line with new developments and technologies.
This time, it has added 6 exemptions under the DMCA, and mobile users in the US are affected by two of them:
“Computer programs that allow you to run lawfully obtained software on your phone that you otherwise would not be able to run aka Jailbreaking to use Google Voice on your iPhone”
“Computer programs that allow you to use your phone on a different network, aka Jailbreaking to use your iPhone on T-mobile”
This means that users in the US who choose to jailbreak their mobile phones are legally able to do so, without incurring the wrath of a lawsuit from Apple.
A Jailbroken phone allows the user to install applications on their iPhone that have been rejected by Apple. The process of jailbreaking a phone such as an iPhone involves unlocking the OS, which gives users the opportunity to download applications and add-ons that third party developers create, without having to go through Apple’s stringent approval process.
Apple, as you would expect, are seeking to appeal against the decision, and have made it clear to American customers that a jailbroken iPhone would void the warranty, as devices could become ‘unstable’.
While some may see the ruling as a victory, I can’t help but wonder whether a jailbroken phone really is the stuff dreams are made of; and here’s why:
1. Jailbreaking ain’t easy. For the non technological wizards among us jailbreaking a phone is not going to be a walk in the park. If you do try and you get it wrong there is always the potential that you could render your phone unusable.
2. There’s no crying to mum when it breaks. Apple will not be on hand to fix your jailbroken mess, and with a void warranty for a jailbroken iPhone, you might just be stuck with a broken phone, not a jailbroken one.
3. Do we want other apps? While most people like to moan about Apple’s walled garden when it comes to app submission and developing on the iPhone, the potential for sub standard, poor quality apps increases dramatically on a jailbroken phone. There is no need to adhere to guidelines, user experience may be poor, you might be subjected to inappropriate content… So is it really a benefit to be able to download anything you like?
What are your thoughts on the US ruling? Are jailbroken phones fundamentally useful? We welcome your opinions…
Dave Martin
July 29, 2010
Oh dear, what a mistake.
This will encourage jailbreaks which are probably not legal – i.e. those that allow individuals to steal Apps without paying the developer. Now this activity (probably the biggest reason why many people go the hastle and risk of jailbreaking their iphone) is NOT leagal.
DO NOT DO IT PIRACY IS A CRIME.