Hackers Remind That iPhone Is Still MyPhone

People have this silly notion that when they buy something, it belongs to them and they can do what they want with it. Silly people. Apple's been relatively quiet about threats to sell software and tools to unlock the iPhone, and AT&T hasn't made any public statements, but a few lawyer warning shots have been fired in private. Hackers Remind That iPhone Is Still MyPhoneUniquePhones, a company that planned to release software that would unlock the iPhone for use on other networks says it got a crack-of-dawn call from an AT&T attorney alleging copyright infringement and illegal software dissemination.

Though AT&T definitely has a dog in this fight – they could lose some money if customers actually have some free choice – it's not completely clear what legal ground the company is standing on. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act allows consumers to unlock devices, and any copyright infringed is owned by Apple, not AT&T.

And even then, it's unclear if Apple could apply law intended to prevent illegal copying and distribution of DVDs, CDs, and video games.


And, in my estimation, if companies keep being hyper-restrictive and consumer unfriendly with everything they produce and sell, they're likely to see consumer revolt, or at least government intervention.