It is 'Illegal' to Unlock iPhones Purchased After Saturday

The U.S. Library of Congress has ruled that unlocking iPhones purchased after January 26th, 2013 is no longer legal.

The ruling which we reported on back in October allows for phones you already have to be unlocked. However, any device purchased over 90 days past the effective date of the ruling (October 28th, 2012) can only be unlocked with the carrier's permission.

Here's the details:

Computer programs, in the form of firmware or software, that enable a wireless telephone handset originally acquired from the operator of a wireless telecommunications network or retailer no later than ninety days after the effective date of this exemption to connect to a different wireless telecommunications network, if the operator of the wireless communications network to which the handset is locked has failed to unlock it within a reasonable period of time following a request by the owner of the wireless telephone handset, and when circumvention is initiated by the owner, an individual consumer, who is also the owner of the copy of the computer program in such wireless telephone handset, solely in order to connect to a different wireless telecommunications network, and such access to the network is authorized by the operator of the network.

This exemption is a modification of the proponents’ proposal. It permits the circumvention of computer programs on mobile phones to enable such mobile phones to connect to alternative networks (often referred to as “unlocking”), but with limited applicability. In order to align the exemption to current market realities, it applies only to mobile phones acquired prior to the effective date of the exemption or within 90 days thereafter.

Notably, the Electronic Frontier Foundations questions the authority of this decision. EFF attorney Mitch Stoltz told TechNewsDaily, "Arguably, locking phone users into one carrier is not at all what the DMCA was meant to do. It's up to the courts to decide."

The same decision also made jailbreaking your iPad 'illegal' as well. Remember this only applies to citizens of the U.S.A.


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*thanks iclarified*

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- Posted using my iPhone 5

How to Backup Your iPhone Unlock Ticket

These are instructions on how to backup your iPhone unlock ticket after unlocking with SAM. It's very important you do this to ensure continued unlock of your SIM in the future.

If you haven't already unlocked using SAM, you can follow this unlock tutorial.

Step One
Launch Cydia from your SpringBoard.


Step Two
Choose Sections from the tabs at the bottom of the screen.


Step Three
Select System from the list of sections.


Step Four
Press to select iFile from the list of packages.


Step Five
Press the Install button at the top right of the screen.


Step Six
Press Confirm to begin installation.


Step Seven
Once the installation has completed successfully, press the large Return to Cydia button.


Step Eight
Press the Home button then launch iFile from your SpringBoard.


Step Nine
Press the Back button at the top left of your screen to navigate to /var.


Step Ten
Choose root from the list of folders in /var.


Step Eleven
Tap to select Library from the list of folders in /var/root.


Step Twelve
Press the Edit button at the top right of the screen.


Step Thirteen
Choose Lockdown from the list of folders. Then press the zip icon in the tab bar. It's the second from the left.


Step Fourteen
Name your archive so you know what SIM card its for. Then press the Create button.


Step Fifteen
Choose the archive we created from the list of files. Then press the mail icon in the tab bar. It's the third from the right.


Step Sixteen
Email yourself the archive. Be sure to keep it in a safe place!



IMPORTANT:
You should perform the unlock procedure and this backup procedure for every SIM you want to use with your iPhone.

Alternatively, if you do not want to use iFile, you can simply SSH into the directory above and copy that file over to your computer. Be sure to save it in a safe place! If you are not sure on how to SSH, we have a [Windows] tutorial and a [Mac] tutorial.

*thanks iClarified*

 Send us a story or tip @ TipsForLimerain.com@gmail.com and follow our pages for the latest limera1n, rubyra1n, and all tech stories, follow us on Twitter at @iphonepixelpost or @limerain_com And like our Facebook page www.iPodSets.com - Posted using my iPhone 4