yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[General Topics] 5318008:
Having just seen this story on Techdirt, I came to the forums to spread the word. I'm glad other people are also aware of it, but honestly I'm surprised it isn't bigger news.
[General Topics] TingTingin:
Re: Unlocking phones illegal

Ikr

Phone Slow? go ------>HERE<------

Ubuntu phone OS announced

what do u think share your thoughts --->HERE<---

_____________________________________

This post uses the patented TingTingin®™ method I would teach it to you but you are not yet worthy (come back in a hundred years)

--Sent from the future with a galaxy s4 like a freaking BAWS-- ​
[General Topics] Weissling:
Re: Unlocking phones illegal

I'm also going to assume this applies to IOS as their known for being the most over reactive about their crap. Windows empire is built on people pirating it, and Linux was always meant to be open source. And let's face it, anytime anyone does something awesome that doesn't belong to apple, they run to their lawyers( ex: nexus)
[General Topics] ktt4510:
Re: Unlocking phones illegal

So correct me if I am wrong but doesn't the GPL provide us as users of a Linux Kernel the right to have full access to the kernel and all functions of the software and it's source code. I am sure that doesn't cover the boot loaders but then those aren't owned by the carriers either but rather the manufacturer of the device so in essence we would have to go directly to Samsung, HTC, etc. For the unlock codes. Please correct me if I am wrong on any points above. Also clarification on how it is already illegal to unlock a tablet would be appreciated. I have a Galaxy Tab 7.0 plus that I had carrier unlocked.

Also what do we do if carriers refuse to provide unlock codes for their locked devices for those of use that are not customers of theirs yet we buy a phone from them. Case in point last may I was looking into buying my dad an HTC One X from AT&T off contract so he could use it on Straight Talk. AT&T said they wouldn't give me the unlock code for the device because I was not a current or past customer just off my contract. I ended up buying him a One S from T-Mobile and they unlocked it on the spot no questions asked.
[General Topics] Product F(RED):
This whole thing changed BECAUSE wireless carrier lobbyists lobbied for it.
[General Topics] Tech71:
Re: Unlocking phones illegal

Well this is an issue the evil empires"cell service providers" and many other evil corporations are puppeting our congress. By threatening to fund their opponents. It's legal blackmail. And or bribery.

Sent from my HTC_Amaze_4G
[General Topics] bleggy:
Re: Unlocking phones illegal

who cares? people will still unlock phones just like they rip/copy movies.
[General Topics] Thomaswlee:
If unlocking phones were illegal, that would suck!
[General Topics] 5318008:
Re: Unlocking phones illegal

True, but just as with non-commercial copyright infringement, courts and corporations will have the power to selectively punish people.

--posted from my phone
[General Topics] barrackOBAMA:
Re: Unlocking phones illegal

Changing an IMEI and ESN is illegal and possible. the resources for doing so however are slim to none.

And mainly the subject is frowned upon here In XDA.

I would sure hope that devs keep developing, but I certainly do not encourage breaking the law even if I agree with it or not.

I dunno if I'm missing something here? But making unlocking illegal only makes monopolies like Verizon, at&t (and so on) more of a monopoly.

Very unfortunate in my opinion.

sent from that young galaxy on clean ROM!
[General Topics] 5318008:
Re: Unlocking phones illegal

I think there's still some disagreement over whether this is strictly accurate.

--posted from my phone
[General Topics] alpha-niner64:
If anything, it would be problematic for Verizon/AT&T if this takes off in the right way, that is people start realizing that contract-based service is bad and this was the wake-up call people needed. People who are on the prepaid revolution bandwagon should be happy about this for its just one more nail in the postpaid coffin.
[General Topics] Pat.:
Re: Unlocking phones illegal

Sim LOCKING is actually illegal in Singapore and Israel.

There's quite a range of different attitudes to sim locking by carriers around the world.

im very surprised that a country is doing this.
[General Topics] JerryGoyal:
evrythng z legal untl u gt caught
[General Topics] spocky12:
Now a question comes to my mind : the reddit quote in page 1 of this thread says :

So the Librarian decided you can unlock phones purchased before Saturday, but not phones purchased after Saturday.

I did not see such affirmation on tech news sites (in which I tend to understand that unlocking will become illegal in the US after Jan 26, no matter when you bought your device).

Would anybody know exactly which affirmation is true ?

As a developper of a sim unlocking software, in the first case, I can still publish it globally on the playstore, and only add a reminder on the unlock button saying that this is only legal in the US if you bought your device before this date (the responsibility will belong to user to do it or not, in the same way some websites have a button "Yes I am over 18").

In the other case, I suppose I would have to remove my app from the playstore (at least don't publish it at all on the US playstore).

As a second question, if an admin reads this, I'd like to know what to do about my thread here in xda : should I remove the free available version just because one country forbid this or is it just ok to leave it as it is now (I don't know where xda servers are located, nor which law apply to this case).

Thanks for shedding light on this. :)
[General Topics] Ibkevin:
Re: Unlocking phones illegal

Hey sorry I just started a similar post. Yours wasn't there while I was typing mine up lol. You got me by 4 minutes lol. Anyway I'm new to XDA so if you need to move mine or combine them or something that's fine. Sorry everyone for the double post on the same topic.
[General Topics] Product F(RED):
The reason is because this became law 90 days ago from Saturday and there was a 90 day window which ends on Saturday.
[General Topics] votinh:
If I go abroad for a month or two, can I get my phone unlocked to use?
[General Topics] Product F(RED):
Guys, honestly, this is not a huge deal. You're not going to go to jail or get fined or anything. This mostly affects people who sell unlock codes on websites and eBay. It's like ripping DVD's you own for personal use.

The law says ripping them is legal, unless they have DRM that you must crap to rip the DVD (99% do), and it's also illegal to move the ripped movie file to another device (e.g. ripping on your computer and putting it on your iPod). No one is going to come after you, unless you rip the movie and distribute copies. Is this whole unlocking thing a big deal? Yes. Will it directly affect you? Probably not.
[General Topics] 5318008:
I just found some more info on this in the Gizmodo article here: http://gizmodo.com/5978982/unlocking-your-phone-is-illegal-starting-tomorrow

It seems to indicate previously-purchased phones are okay to SIM-unlock, which should help us all out a fair bit here on xda, plus rooting and jailbreaking phones (but not tablets) still seems to be fine. There's also a bit that says the carriers will probably be able to tell if you're using an illegally-unlocked phone on their network, but they might just be talking about the normal sort of handset detection they already have.
[General Topics] bleggy:
Re: Unlocking phones illegal

I saw an official AT&T or TMobile ad for unlocked phones. It was a promotion for selling unlocked phones. It was up at a subway stop. I'll take a picture when I pass it again.
[General Topics] Product F(RED):
The other thing they said was that if you buy the phone outright, you're entitled to unlock it, or if your contract is up, or if the carrier gives it to you willingly, or if it was bought before 1/26/13.

That being said, XDA and businesses who sell these codes can continue operating under the assumption that the devices being unlocked via whatever methods are provided here to do so have been purchased outright from a carrier.
[General Topics] ktt4510:
Re: Unlocking phones illegal

So can anyone explain why rooting or jail breaking a tablet is illegal. Not really understanding why tablets are treated differently especially considering that android and iOS tablets run the OS as their phone counterparts. Windows RT I can understand but still disagree with. If I own the device I should be able to do as I wish with it.
[General Topics] evilmrt:
As you might have seen, there is a petition on whitehouse.gov already. It needs 100k people to sign to get an official response.

And as I posted in the unlocking forum, here is the guy behind all of this....he's been at his post since 1987, and he's 83. I am not sure he really is knowledgeable about any of this stuff to be making such far reaching decisions:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_H._Billington
[General Topics] Antagonist42:
Re: Unlocking phones illegal

Never knock somebody just because they're over 50 - worst mistake you could make ;)
[General Topics] evilmrt:
Didn't say over 50 bro. I said over 80. :laugh:
[General Topics] Product F(RED):
Here's the petition link for anyone who's interested: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/make-unlocking-cell-phones-legal/1g9KhZG7

To sign up, you need to give your first and last name, and also your zip code (no address though). They'll email you an activation link and then you're good. Spread the word!

The White House responds to petitions that reach 100,000 signatures. So far, there are almost 6,500, which is way more than most others.
[General Topics] jaydsterc2:
Coming up next... Taking Windows off a PC and putting Linux on it... Illegal!
[General Topics] TMc51:
I wouldn't have as much issue with lobbying if only everybody referred to it by its proper name; bribery.
[General Topics] Oomike:
This! ++!!++9000 AGREED. Bribe people who enforce law = bad , bribe people who make law= good??

---------- Post added at 02:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:42 PM ----------

This seems like Dr. Dre and Napster
[General Topics] TingTingin:
Re: [Petition] Unlocking phones illegal

Thanks I added that to the OP

Phone Slow? go ------>HERE<------

Ubuntu phone OS announced

what do u think share your thoughts --->HERE<---

_____________________________________

This post uses the patented TingTingin®™ method I would teach it to you but you are not yet worthy (come back in a hundred years)

--Sent from the future with a galaxy s4 like a freaking BAWS-- ​
[General Topics] Product F(RED):
Re: [Petition] Unlocking phones illegal

No problem, but my username is Product F(RED), not Project ;)
[General Topics] TingTingin:
Re: [Petition] Unlocking phones illegal

Lol I changed it
[General Topics] DanRyan85:
15,000 petition signature landmark!

Just signed my name. That makes 15,000. Let's blow this petition out of the water. How about it XDA?
[General Topics] toutoune28:
done
[General Topics] TingTingin:
Re: [Petition] Unlocking phones illegal

Democracy may be a b**ch but she's my b**ch

Down with oppression sign the petition

LOL!

Phone Slow? go ------>HERE<------

Ubuntu phone OS announced

what do u think share your thoughts --->HERE<---

_____________________________________

This post uses the patented TingTingin®™ method I would teach it to you but you are not yet worthy (come back in a hundred years)

--Sent from the future with a galaxy s4 running ubuntu like a freaking BAWS-- ​
[General Topics] jimmcghee:
Are the Android Developer forums now illegal???

My big question is this:

If you live in the US and you buy a Samsung Galaxy S III tomorrow from AT&T and then proceed to install one of the many versions of Jellybean on it, have you broken the law? :eek:

It would seem like you have because the phone would no longer be carrier locked. :(

Wouldn't that make all the Android Development forums illegal? Or at least it would make them forums about illegal activities. :crying:

I LOVE building a new ROM and then running it on my SGS2. I'd hate to think that this is the last phone I'll be able to do that on without breaking the law!!! :(:(:(

OK, I thought about it some more and realized that this only applies to phones bought carrier locked. I guess in the future I must only buy phones that I know for a fact have never been locked or have been unlocked by the carrier.

No more phones of dubious history from ebay.
[General Topics] spocky12:
Re: [Petition] Unlocking phones illegal

Flashing another rom (even an unbranded one) doesn't sim unlock your device.
[General Topics] viper1059:
Re: [Petition] Unlocking phones illegal

Does this law also effect changing your prl
[General Topics] PvtJoker:
Signed #16997
[General Topics] billa:
Petition

This is trully an absurd ruling, anti-consumerism... and most "-ism"s are bad ;)

Signed and done my part!!

Please people take a minute and show your support.

Thanks!!
[General Topics] lopez0015:
s off or sim card unlock

Ehh how this law works is just for people than try to resale o change carrier...or for everyone.. becose am only try change software

So it applies for me to??

How they will know am unlocking? (if am not unlooking simcard am staying t mobile )

Becose am a tmobile user USA and when pay bill over internet webpage it shows my phone but not my software...
[General Topics] rashid.fairus:
Re: [Petition] Unlocking phones illegal

open source but have soo many limitations..what Google say about this?
[General Topics] alpha-niner64:
There's one thing wrong with that petition that paints a misleading picture in a huge way which is why I won't sign it.

You can unlock your phone if you followed the contract. AT&T will unlock your postpaid phone given completed your 2 years. Verizon will also do the same as well. Sprint phones can be unlocked in contract with a good customer history. Verizon does the same under special circumstances. AFAIK: the unlocking business is to dissuade people who sell unlock codes and people who enter into a contract, unlock their phones, end the contract and resell the phone for profit. Under reasonable circumstances: most carrier CSAs will happily unlock your phone for international use.

While I still agree unlocked phones and carrier-freedom is the way forward: the petition needs to include all the facts and not just skewed biased consumerism.
[General Topics] TingTingin:
Re: [Petition] Unlocking phones illegal

Did u follow the link not the petition the link with more info which explains what u just said

Phone Slow? go ------>HERE<------

Ubuntu phone OS announced

what do u think share your thoughts --->HERE<---

_____________________________________

This post uses the patented TingTingin®™ method I would teach it to you but you are not yet worthy (come back in a hundred years)

--Sent from the future with a galaxy s4 running ubuntu like a freaking BAWS-- ​
[General Topics] Weissling:
Re: [Petition] Unlocking phones illegal

Signed

Sent from my Galaxy Note i717 Black★STAR X
[General Topics] DanRyan85:
Nearly at 25K sigs, 75K to go!

Anyone have further ideas for driving signatures?I'm trying to think of other sites, or groups we can publicize the petition to. Obviously, @ the bottom of the petition is the link to Facebook and Twitter that everyone is using right? If you have already post and let everyone know to do the same, and please let us know where else you think of to spread the word. We can squash this garbage!
[General Topics] My Gnexi:
Yes it's quite amazing that you have new rules against customers.

Here in Israel since last year cellular carrier are no longer allowed to sell SIM locked devices and are required to unlock any phone locked by them in the past free of charge.

Also, if they offer a plan that includes a new device they have to offer the same discount to customers who bring their own (new) device.

Mobile numbers can be ported to whatever carrier you want, so you just need to sign with a new carrier and your new SIM will be active with your current number within 3 hours (working days)

And last, they forced carriers to allow other companies to provide service as MVNOs, and there are also two new real providers.

So the end result is extremely low prices for most consumers.

I wish you guys in the USA the same fate.
[General Topics] Weissling:
Re: [Petition] Unlocking phones illegal

Email a link to EFF. This is exactly the kind of thing they fight for

Sent from my Galaxy Note i717 Black★STAR X
[General Topics] Product F(RED):
Re: [Petition] Unlocking phones illegal

They already responded to this.
[General Topics] Weissling:
Re: [Petition] Unlocking phones illegal

Ah, missed it. I was surprised if they weren't ontop of it already, they're normally there first lol

Sent from my Galaxy Note i717 Black★STAR X
[General Topics] Fortidude:
hehe, it's some kind of joke?

What will be next? Law about "you cant change sim because it's a illegal"

phi..
[General Topics] KemikalElite:
Re: [Petition] Unlocking phones illegal

The next law is probably gonna be something where the SIM card cannot be "modified" meaning they'll make up some BS about how we can't change the size of card using those micro SIM adapters because it could potentially be considered "deceptive"

I shouldn't give them any bright ideas.

I bet if I was on a locked prepaid phone (especially with At&t) and said I will be traveling internationally they would decline giving a code. So then you'd either have to buy a whole new phone or be subjected to roaming fees. That's a ripoff.
[General Topics] Product F(RED):
I read in some countries that they superglue SIM cards into prepaid phones because people buy them, remove the SIMs, and sell them over seas. Who the hell cares what someone does with them? They bought them. They're their phones now.
[General Topics] TingTingin:
Re: [Petition] Unlocking phones illegal

Exactly

Phone Slow? go ------>HERE<------

Ubuntu phone OS announced

what do u think share your thoughts --->HERE<---

_____________________________________

This post uses the patented TingTingin®™ method I would teach it to you but you are not yet worthy (come back in a hundred years)

--Sent from the future with a galaxy s4 running ubuntu like a freaking BAWS-- ​
[General Topics] chexuma:
As stupid as this ruling is, it's worth pointing out that this law is all but unenforceable. Further, no government agency is going to risk investigating and prosecuting those in violation of this ruling.

Still, I hope congress rectifies the situation. I hate stupid laws.
[General Topics] egzthunder1:
Just thought I would point out that the signatures went up by almost 40,000 since yesterday at 7 pm.

Also, I made an article in the Portal about it. So, if you guys feel like spreading the word a bit... I am sure it will not hurt the cause :)
[General Topics] votinh:
Are you (or we) sure about providers WILL unlock our phones after the contract ended?

If they make this "unlocking phone" to be illegal then I want to see another law that saying "it's illegal to NOT provide unlock code to customer after their contract has ended". Right now, as this stage, AT&T or Verizon have no plan to give out the unlock code.

Also, this law, "even illegal to unlock our phone after contract ended" is plain stupid.
[General Topics] egzthunder1:
Verizon will never give you an unlock code regardless of the law :p

Sent from mALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD!!
[General Topics] Wahlburg:
Re: [Petition] Unlocking phones illegal

I personally think that unlocking phones should not be illegal. Its not really hurting anyone. It may annoy cellular providers, but it should not matter.
[General Topics] dabink:
are they not changing the law soon so phones have to be unlocked by the manufacturer?
[General Topics] Mike_NZ:
They've already got the bright idea - Apple (and possibly others) are pushing for a recognized GSMA standard for a "software SIM" that is part of the phone firmware - this will restrict you to carriers that were pre-configured by the phone manufacturer, even if the phone is unlocked. Supposedly this is to eliminate the space requirement needed for a physical SIM card and holder, but it wouldn't take too long for it to become an 'improved' carrier lock in scheme.

True, there would be an upfront cost, but at least you'd be coming home with a legitimately unlocked phone in your pocket :).
[General Topics] Product F(RED):
Yup. They basically want a CDMA-like system, except with the global reach/standard of GSM. A**holes.
[General Topics] Night_Slayer:
I agree, we bought them with our own money. We should do whatever we want. But it's life can't do anything without getting screwed in the end. :I
[General Topics] anathema_forever:
rather have them make neuter phones for the prepaid market and make it illegal to lock phones lol instead. If my government is gonna be partisan, It should side with me and I've got the lobbyist to prove it, oh wait I don't I am not a fat blob corporation.
[General Topics] joinsaketonly:
Theres nothing like this in India... I must say... :D:D:D.. Because unlocking any phone or using sn unlock phone is not a crime or anything related to crime here
[General Topics] TingTingin:
This is in America

Phone Slow? go ------>HERE<------

Ubuntu phone OS announced

what do u think share your thoughts --->HERE<---

_____________________________________

This post uses the patented TingTingin®™ method I would teach it to you but you are not yet worthy (come back in a hundred years)

--Sent from the future with a galaxy s4 running ubuntu like a freaking BAWS-- ​
[General Topics] votinh:
This is Amerikan, buddy, a country of freedom, the country that you can curse anyone, even the President, the country that allow you to buy machine guns, keep and sometimes carry around but forces me to buy auto insurance, forces me to buy health insurance for me and every other fellow American including scumbags, forces me to fasten seat belt out of my will and now forces me stop unlocking my phone. LOL :D

What a beautiful country!

Anyway, signed.
[General Topics] alpha-niner64:
I gave you reasons why it's not stupid business-wise in your quoted post. I think that's fair reason enough for carriers not to simply hand out codes to anyone that asks. People who abused the subsidized phone models are the ones that make the rest of us pay for it. In an ideal world: CEO and their board would take paycuts and figure out a way to cut the cancerous tumor. Reality paints a different picture.

I think what TMO is doing such as doing away with contracts and subsidized phone models is the right step forward for everyone.
[General Topics] DanRyan85:
43,000 Signatures!

Just reached 43,00 signatures! Everyone please spread the word of this incredibly unjust law and the petition against it. Don't forget to tell people at work, at home and in the store and post on your favorite social media site! We are nearly halfway there and now is not the time to slow down, we don't want to be needing 25k signatures with a few days left right? Let's hit that 100K!
[General Topics] Wahlburg:
Just signed it. Lets go for 100k signatures!
[General Topics] votinh:
Let's be clear, here.

First of all, the rule that enforces people is stupid, indeed.

Secondly, from business perspective, it's good for them, certainly not stupid at all, 'cuz they keep generating millions of dollars annually, most of them is directly from us.

Thirdly, I don't believe that the rule is fair, at least not from my point of view. I virtually don't care other people who abused the subsidized phone or not, I'm talking about my phone or possibly, your phone too. Think this way, I now pay $199.99 out of my pocket to get the SGS3 AND sign the 2-year contract; two year from now, after my contract ended, why can't I get my phone unlocked? It is MY PHONE.