Revision in U.S. copyright law has numerous implications

By Andrew Krietz

Created:
07/29/10 4:46pm

Last updated:
07/29/10 4:46pm

1 comment

It is almost smooth sailing for mobile phone users after a monumental revision in U.S. copyright law Monday.

The U.S. Library of Congress ruled an exception to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 and it now is completely legal for legitimate owners of a device to bypass the software’s tight restrictions concerning what one can and cannot do and be able to make modifications to the device.

Although it appears every device is affected by this change, only one has garnered enough attention with its own software limitations: Apple Inc.’s iPhone.

When the original phone launched in June 2007, a user was only allowed to run Apple-supported applications, or apps, installed on the device or “web apps” within the phone’s web browser. The notion of Apple’s App Store was not even considered at this point — the company restricted the installation of third-party apps until the official launch of the App Store in July 2008.

In addition, users were tied to only one cellular service provider inside the United States — AT&T — and remain so to this day. In the U.S., the only other provider with the technical system to support the iPhone is T-Mobile. Under the revision, modifying one’s phone to work on the T-Mobile network is legal.

Users of the first iPhone, including myself, were left hanging by the company when they wanted to make even the most minute customizations. Even now, for example, one cannot create a custom ringtone for incoming texts without “jailbreaking” the device, or modifying it to the extent where one can make changes Apple restricts.

In the future, customers must wait around until the company releases an official update to the device, hoping their favorite features would be added.

When the change in the law was announced, The New York Times quoted Mario Ciabarra, a so-called “jailbreaker” and application developer, as saying, “The independent community makes the phone so much more appealing to users — There’s a whole world of possibilities for what you can do with your phone.”

In a support document online, Apple said “It is also important to note that unauthorized modification of the iOS [the phone operating system] is a violation of the iPhone end-user license agreement and because of this, Apple may deny service for an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch that has installed any unauthorized software.”

Instead of resisting users’ want for further modifications of their device, Apple should embrace it. Because hey, if I bought it, I should be able to do whatever I want with it.

Although there is almost nothing Apple can do to force another revision in the law, they can continue to say that any changes “might” void one’s warranty.

The pirate nation should sail the high seas with caution as legality of jailbreaking does not guarantee approval by any company or user affected by the change in copyright law.

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SIGP226

(07/30/10 11:38am)
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PORN.

‘nuff said.

About Tech Trends

Cops and courts reporter Andrew Krietz writes about technology that entertains and informs. From content on demand to the latest viral YouTube clip, a rundown of the latest and greatest will be found here.

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