iphone officially unlockable

[shardian]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/ptech/08/24/iphone.unlocked.ap/index.html

and the ebay hounds are already all over it with fakes, and "unlocked" phones.

[Kaytrim]

The kid is even selling a second unlocked iphone on ebay.
eBay acution

Current bid is $2,900

[shardian]

So can one of our resident law experts chime in on if they think Apple will try to find a way to bring legal action against this kid?

[ChadTower]

Let's see... million dollar attorneys vs a 17 year old kid.

They will.  The law doesn't mean anything compared to paying for the attorneys.

[billf]

Now the bid is up to $4,550!! 

[HaRuMaN]

There is apparently no U.S. law against unlocking cell phones. Last year, the Library of Congress specifically excluded cell-phone unlocking from coverage under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

[jbox]

That doesn't mean they can't just add it as a clause to your contract. There is a huge difference between something being protected by law, and something that is just "not illegal". 

[Zero_Hour]

There is apparently no U.S. law against unlocking cell phones. Last year, the Library of Congress specifically excluded cell-phone unlocking from coverage under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

"for the sole purpose of lawfully connecting to a wireless telephone communication network."

So the folks selling on ebay, couldn't claim that exemption, since their purpose is profit. Apple probably could go after them. Not saying they will, but other carriers have gone after unlockers/resellers, and gotten settlements.

Also the DMCA exemption has a 3 year run, and then must be renewed by the Library of Congress.

It's too damn expensive for me regardless of carriers. Maybe some day it will be cheaper / not on AT&T, and I'll check it out.

[crashwg]

Or you can just get an "I-Clone", use any network and have more functionality than the real thing...

[HaRuMaN]

Bid's up to $40,000 

[DrumAnBass]

I bet Apple will hire this kid.

Back in the day ('94) when I did some work for Apple they had a 16 year old wiz kid working for them; whom they hired after he figured out a really cool hack for HyperCard I believe.

[shardian]

I bet Apple will hire this kid.

Back in the day ('94) when I did some work for Apple they had a 16 year old wiz kid working for them; whom they hired after he figured out a really cool hack for HyperCard I believe.

He was on CNN today. He said that google has offered him an internship already.