Make Unlocking Cell Phones Legal.
The Librarian of Congress decided in October 2012 that unlocking of cell phones would be removed from the exceptions to the DMCA.
As of January 26, consumers will no longer be able unlock their phones for use on a different network without carrier permission, even after their contract has expired.
Consumers will be forced to pay exorbitant roaming fees to make calls while traveling abroad. It reduces consumer choice, and decreases the resale value of devices that consumers have paid for in full.
The Librarian noted that carriers are offering more unlocked phones at present, but the great majority of phones sold are still locked.
We ask that the White House ask the Librarian of Congress to rescind this decision, and failing that, champion a bill that makes unlocking permanently legal.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/make-unlocking-cell-phones-legal/1g9KhZG7
click to go sign this petition
Welcome to my world, here in Europe its been like that since forever. You’ll get used to it.
Sally
28 Jan 13 at 8:07 pm
hi Sally! thanks for the European perspective (you are now our official European Correspondent!) =)
yah, the corporations will win this one – still sucks though because a modern phone is a computer and you do end up paying its full price
my 2+ year old Galaxy costs $600 and if i am an idiot and mess it up, then that’s how i learn
if the phone is not being sold at it’s proper cost, i’d rather see the cost go up then to never own it
it’s like buying a car but it always belonging to the dealer
i suppose it is something to get used to, just like you never can “own” an e-book you buy from Amazon or Barnes & Noble
bah! =(
Ener Hax
29 Jan 13 at 8:51 am
I thought in the EU, companies were allowed to sell locked phones, but consumers had to be able to unlock them at some point, possibly specified in the contract, or possibly for a small fee. It will vary by country though as they implement EU directives with small but confusing differences. I’ve not heard anything about unlocking being illegal in the UK.
Keith Selmes
29 Jan 13 at 11:12 am
I think somebody will challenge this in court and I hope they do, maybe a group of ppl will challenge this bad concept of greedy phone providers, ener is right cell phones can be very costly and I think we do have a right to not have strings attached in using our property. Everyone have a nice and blessed day :D
Shemira
30 Jan 13 at 8:01 am
it’s just kind of crazy that we are all going to end up leasing everything in life and never owning anything! =/
Ener Hax
1 Feb 13 at 3:15 am