Important New Smartphone Regulation Is Now in Effect
Effective January 26, 2013, a Library of Congress ruling prohibits users from running their smartphone on a network other than that of the carrier that sold it.
eWeek.com, a website for technology news, opinions and reviews, reported that as of Saturday, Jan. 26, unlocking smartphones without a service provider's permission is illegal. A Library of Congress ruling has gone into effect that prohibits smartphone users from circumventing copyright protection systems — systems that enable a phone to run on only the network of the carrier that sold it. For example, if you purchase an iPhone with AT&T service, that phone is programmed to only connect to AT&T's network. If you want an unlocked phone, one that you could connect to multiple service providers, you'll have to buy it that way — and it's more expensive — or ask your carrier to send you an unlock code, which could be unlikely. "Imagine buying…
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Marvin Mauldin
10:14 am on Sunday, January 27, 2013
What authority does the Library of Congress have to issue rulings about anything outside the Library of Congress? Can the Smithsonian say how many cameras I can collect? more ›