01-28-2013, 07:22 PM | #1 | ||
Wizard
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The Most Ridiculous Law of 2013
From the Atlantic...
The Most Ridiculous Law of 2013 (So Far): It Is Now a Crime to Unlock Your Smartphone Quote:
Quote:
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01-28-2013, 07:38 PM | #2 |
Readaholic
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I do not think that the Library of Congress can pass laws. That is reserved for the Senate and House of Representatives.
Apache |
01-28-2013, 07:44 PM | #3 |
Wizard
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01-28-2013, 07:50 PM | #4 |
Wizard
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01-28-2013, 08:00 PM | #5 |
Wizard
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2013 is off to a good start.
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01-28-2013, 08:30 PM | #6 |
eReader
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Half a Million for unlocking a phone? Overreact much?
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01-28-2013, 08:45 PM | #7 |
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I think there's an important distinction between "rooting" (to install a legally obtained app that otherwise wouldn't work on your device) and "unlocking" (for the purpose of carrier hopping). Most people with far more expertise in legalese than me have suggested that the former wouldn't likely fall under the aegis of the new decree, but rather the latter is what's being targeted.
But who knows for sure? This guy sure seems to. Whether or not he actually does know is debatable, but it at least sounds sensible (as if that really applies). Last edited by DiapDealer; 01-28-2013 at 08:48 PM. |
01-28-2013, 09:01 PM | #8 |
The Dank Side of the Moon
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I have to agree it is a very ridiculous law. We should be opening this sort of thing up, not making it illegal. I wonder who was behind this?
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01-28-2013, 10:44 PM | #9 |
Wizard
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I thought laws were there to protect people but in the US corporations are people so I guess the laws are for them. Over here it has been illegal for a carrier to lock phones for many years. Its your phone you paid for it carriers should not have a say in what you do with it.
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01-28-2013, 10:47 PM | #10 |
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Over here carriers often bundle the cost of the (locked) phone into the cost of the service contract.
Not saying that's right or wrong -- just the way it is. |
01-28-2013, 11:33 PM | #11 |
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Reminds me of another news story about the Senate and stupid decisions. When time was running out to keep the Gov. going and there was the 11th hr agreement someone slipped something into a bill that would give some $500 million to a particular drug co. (I forget which) Anyway this particular Drug company had been in the news this previous year for some illegal doings for which they were fined $700 million. So in effect the add on to the bill would pay back all but $200 million of the fines the company had paid out. It's just plain stupid. You don't give money to someone who has just been found guilty of breaking the law.
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01-29-2013, 12:23 AM | #12 |
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01-29-2013, 03:05 AM | #13 |
Treachery of images ...
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And the law for breaking wind in public???
Oh, that's still being considered is it? (Well, surely someone's thought that'd be a real money earner! ) Last edited by Lynx-lynx; 01-29-2013 at 03:25 AM. Reason: Whistling!!! |
01-29-2013, 06:39 AM | #14 |
DSil
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If you own the phone, I assume it isn't locked. (As mentioned above, though your deal may state that the phone company owns the phone, which is fair enough as you probably didn't pay for it outright and if you don't like them having the right to lock it you should have got another deal.) But if you put your phone (purchased outright by yourself) on a contract that (deliberately or accidentally) locks the phone, then surely you have the right to unlock it (and fine the phone company $500,000 for mis-using your "computer")....
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01-29-2013, 06:43 AM | #15 |
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