Unlocking your phone is cool again following passing of Senate bill

The Senate has passed bill S. 517, allowing consumers to unlock their phones when it is time to switch carriers.

S. 517 aka the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act, will make it once again legal to unlock your phones when your contract is up. The right had been an exemption in the DMCA, but it was revoked when the Library of Congress ruled phone software is protected by copyright and that unlocking could potentially be a copyright violation.

"This straightforward restoring bill is about promoting consumer rights," says Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) "When consumers finish the terms of their contract, they should be able to keep their phones and make their own decision about which wireless provider to use."

The Senate passed the bill unanimously and it now goes to the House.

Source:
The Hill

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 16 Jul 2014 13:47

hearme0

WOW!

Hard to believe that my country actually decided to allow this. Very uncharacteristic of the U.S. and its crazy arrogance and greed.

16.7.2014 16:39 #1

Frogfart

Phone company probably didn't give them a big enough bribe!

17.7.2014 17:29 #2

biglo30

Welll i cant say that I dont agree with this. I dont have a problem with them allowing individuals the right to unlock their phones after the contract is complete. If they paid for the phones up front or completed payment of it before the contract is up I think they should be allowed to unlock it, if not then locked it should be.

19.7.2014 21:44 #3

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