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Mozilla and Skype back iPhone jailbreaking

19 February 2009 13:00 by Rich "vurbal" Fiscus | 17 comments

Earlier this month the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) officially requested that the Library of Congress create a DMCA exemption for jailbreaking smartphones to allow the installation of software not approved by the manufacturer. Last week Apple responded with a claim that this would violate iPhone copyrights. Now Mozilla Corporation, developers of the Firefox web browser, and VOIP provider Skype have filed their own comments in support of EFF's position.

Harvey Anderson, Vice President of Mozilla wrote "users who purchase these devices are required to decrypt and modify, or "jailbreak," their phones. This creates a chilling effect on users and innovation. Users do not feel they have the choice of using open source and other legitimately obtained software programs or software they develop on their telephone handsets because they are concerned about breaching the law."

Skype's comments point out that US carriers all claim to be in favor of open wireless networks, while they "continue to employ various means to keep users from using devices and software applications of their choice � from terms of service to the software and firmware loaded on the handsets sold by the carriers."

They argue "An end-to-end network, in which consumer choice is empowered, ensures that innovation occurs at the edges of the network where hundreds if not thousands of application developers and software manufacturers, rather than a handful of wireless carriers, can compete to meet consumer demand."

EFF has also responded to Apple's claim that their iTunes App Store makes jailbreaking unneccessary. They gave numerous examples of software which has been rejected for the App Store, in many cases because it would compete with another product from Apple or one of their partners.

"These examples underscore the fact that there is no copyright-related rationale for preventing iPhone owners from �jailbreaking� their phones, enabling them to interoperate with applications lawfully obtained from a source of their own choosing," wrote EFF's attorneys.

Permalink to this article | Topic: Phones

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Discuss this article!
hermetica (Newbie) 19 February 2009 16:57
Now that i have jailbreaked it and hacked the SH!7!!! out of it goin back to a regular out of the box iphone would B Absoloutly BORING :) [ + quote]
Pnub (Newbie) 20 February 2009 0:35
im pumped for when it can run linux [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 20 February 2009 3:19
Now this could drive some innovation think of it sell the hardware and the data plan and let the people chose their phone service, sure VOIP over G3 would be so so at beast but its a start!!! Now if they would only sale the data plans by the speed in 50KBPS blocks for 25$ a shot........ [ + quote]
plazma247 (Junior Member) 20 February 2009 3:33
Its more like booo hoo, we dont want people to jailbrake as we cant bend them over the table and force them to buy from the iphone app store anymore :-p suck it up apple. [ + quote]
looser_ur (Inactive) 20 February 2009 11:07
Apple is such a scam. Great quality hardware and product but to Stalinize their end of the industry by bitching and complaining about jailbreaking their phones is crap! This is a non-negotiable for all consumers...........We bought your phone...........we do what we want with it. Don't like it???...........PISS OFF APPLE!!! [ + quote]
vballstud (Inactive) 20 February 2009 11:17
I could understand if people leased their phones from Apple because Apple would still partially own it, but that's not the case. Apple doesn't own the phones and it's the owner's right to do whatever they want with their own phones. Imagine if Toyota wouldn't allow people to modify their cars. If anything, the ability to modify a product would help increase their sales. Afterdawns e-Thug I have no tolerance for idiots... or people that dont know how to use Google. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 20 February 2009 11:18
looser_ur (Inactive) 20 February 2009 12:00
Apple is such a scam. Great quality hardware and product but to Stalinize their end of the industry by bitching and complaining about jailbreaking their phones is crap! This is a non-negotiable for all consumers...........We bought your phone...........we do what we want with it. Don't like it???...........PISS OFF APPLE!!! [ + quote]
maryjayne (Junior Member) 20 February 2009 12:42
The lawsuit is only Apple's way of trying to create a monopoly on the applications that can be run. They do not like the idea of other developers coming up with ideas before they can get their applications on the iTunes store for the consumers to buy. [ + quote]
vballstud (Inactive) 20 February 2009 13:30
*Originally posted by looser_ur:* Apple is such a scam... blah blah blah Felt a need to repost yourself? Afterdawns e-Thug I have no tolerance for idiots... or people that dont know how to use Google. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 20 February 2009 13:30
gallagher (Member) 20 February 2009 15:22
*Originally posted by vballstud:* I could understand if people leased their phones from Apple because Apple would still partially own it, but that's not the case. Apple doesn't own the phones and it's the owner's right to do whatever they want with their own phones. Imagine if Toyota wouldn't allow people to modify their cars. If anything, the ability to modify a product would help increase their sales. Actually, that is why you sign your contract. You are in effect leasing the phone until your contract is up--then it becomes yours. They heavily subsidize these phones in exchange for a service contract. Imagine you give an engagement ring to a girl, then she dumps you the next day. Should she keep the ring or at least not pay you for it? This is settled in common law countries and the answer is NO, because it is a conditional gift. Exact same situation. [ + quote]
Morreale (Member) 20 February 2009 18:43
As long as I have my card counter app, I'm happy... ;) [ + quote]
looser_ur (Inactive) 22 February 2009 1:04
*Quote:* *Originally posted by looser_ur:* Apple is such a scam... blah blah blah Felt a need to repost yourself? I just noticed that after a couple days.............don't know how that happened. I honestly don't do that intentionally. It's annoying and frankly, people don't care enough about MY PARTICULAR comment to pay attention to it twice. Must've hit browser back and "Post Reply" button twice. My bad. [ + quote]
leonle (Inactive) 25 February 2009 12:11
I don like the very idea of apple,it is not making any sense. Stock Market Basics [ + quote]
pmshah (Newbie) 27 February 2009 19:39
*Quote:* *Originally posted by vballstud:* They heavily subsidize these phones in exchange for a service contract. Imagine you give an engagement ring to a girl, then she dumps you the next day. Should she keep the ring or at least not pay you for it? This is settled in common law countries and the answer is NO, because it is a conditional gift. Exact same situation. Heavily subsidize??? That is a lot of crap. I have been involved in contract manufacturing industry for a number of year. Even at the price they are selling you they are making money. So far as the the ring analogy is concerned what kind of service one should expect!!!! [ + quote]
prof7f (Inactive) 4 April 2009 6:55
SPAM removed [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 21 October 2009 16:08
plazma247 (Junior Member) 4 April 2009 7:18
SPAM MOD PLEASE SUSPEND ACCOUNT REMOVE POST AND BLOCK. [ + quote]
mattcboyd (Inactive) 21 October 2009 13:55
SPAM removed [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 21 October 2009 16:08