Apple has lost some of its totalitarian grip over its devices with a review of the US copyright law stating that jailbreaking is legal, as well as users unlocking their iPhone to switch service providers.
Apple has opposed the changes saying that allowing iPhones to be hacked will open handsets to security holes, computer viruses, and hardware damage. The company has been criticised for its strict control over the iPhone App Store and for requiring that all applications be approved before they are made available for download which has lead to this trend in unauthorised and (previously) illegal apps.
However Apple say that this is done to keep faulty software from being made available and the recent legal ruling will break 'the chain of trust' between Apple and its consumers.
“The Copyright Office recognises that the primary purpose of the locks on cell phones is to bind customers to their existing networks, rather than to protect copyrights,”
Although Jailbreaking is 'legal' Apple is still free to enforce terms of service agreed to by buyers thus hacking the iPhone may still void the warranty.
The copyright revision also allows users to bypass anti-copying technology on DVDs in the cases of documentaries, non-commercial works, and videos used for educational purposes.
So which side of the fence are you on? Are these changes to the rules a good step towards consumer freedom or a dangerous hole in Apples defence?
Source: Sky News (tech)