Unlocking New Mobile Phones Becomes Illegal In the US Tomorrow

[wraggster]

Referencing a decision outlined in the Federal Register (http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-10-26/html/2012-26308.htm), Tech News Daily has published an article noting that the window to unlock your new mobile phone in the U.S. is closing. (http://www.technewsdaily.com/16514-unlocking-cellphones-becomes-illegal.html) 'In October 2012, the Librarian of Congress, who determines exemptions to a strict anti-hacking law called the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), decided that unlocking mobile phones would no longer be allowed. But the library provided a 90-day window during which people could still buy a phone and unlock it. That window closes on January 26.' While this doesn't apply to phones purchased before the window closes, this means that after 1/26/13, for any new mobile phone you purchase, you'll have to fulfill your contract, or break the law to unlock it."It will still be perfectly legal to purchase an unlocked phone, which many carriers offer. This change removes the exemption for buying a new phone under contract (and thus, at a discount) and then unlocking it.

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/13/01/25/144204/unlocking-new-mobile-phones-becomes-illegal-in-the-us-tomorrow

[gigafan]

Got a good response from the white house about legalizing cell phone unlocking.

The recent ruling that effectively bans third-party unlocking has ruffled more than a few feathers, and the people have spoken with their electronic signatures---14,322 of them , to be exact. Now the petition to the White House, which asks that DMCA protection of phone unlockers be reconsidered, has finally received an official response, and it appears that it's for the positive.
You can still get your phone unlocked from any third party vendors like Mobileunlocksolutions.com ..there is no issues ..