Library Of Congress

As of tomorrow, unauthorized unlocking of new, on-contract iPhones will be illegal in the U.S.

By Rene Ritchie, Friday, Jan 25, 2013 a 10:40 am

Due to a ruling by the Librarian of Congress, come tomorrow it will be illegal to unlock a new, on-contract iPhone -- or any phone -- in the U.S. If you bought your iPhone before tomorrow, or if you bought a factory unlocked iPhone straight from Apple, or off-contract, full priced iPhone from carriers, or your contract is over, you shouldn't be subject to any restrictions. Doing it on your own via Jailbreak, however, will be strictly verboten, and likely subject to prosecution by law enforcement and the Batman.

What Jailbreaking/Unlocking DMCA exception means for end users

By Allyson Kazmucha, Monday, Jul 26, 2010 a 1:31 pm

The Library of Congress' DMCA exception for jailbreaking is big news for our community. The new ruling basically says that jailbreaking or unlocking devices is not illegal. But I think the bigger question on most people's minds is what that's going to mean for end users and the jailbreak community in general. So what does this ruling mean for you, jailbreak ninjas? Read on to find out.

Library of Congress adds iPhone, iPad Jailbreaking exception to DMCA

By Rene Ritchie, Monday, Jul 26, 2010 a 12:16 pm

Did the Library of Congress just add a DCMA exception for Jailbreaking? Why yes they did:

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.

Engagdet lays out what it means and -- more importantly -- what it doesn't: