EFF: Keep Jailbreaking Legal
Jailbreaking a device, or hacking it so that it can run third-party software, was deemed legal in 2010 by the U.S. Copyright Office. However, that exemption is set to expire, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is asking people to lobby so that jailbreaking will continue to be protected by law.
The EFF explained: [Jailbreaking] is important to programmers, enthusiasts, and users. But jailbreaking creates legal uncertainty. Some device manufacturers claim that jailbreaking violates Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DCMA), which carries stiff penalties."
The EFF is asking people to sign a petition that pushes for renewed coverage for jailbroken smartphones and an expansion that also protects tablets. "The Copyright Office needs to hear from people who depend on the ability to jailbreak to write, use, and/or tinker with independent software (from useful apps to essential security fixes) for smartphones, tablets, and game consoles," the EFF said.
