Since last Saturday releasing a cell phone is illegal in the US.

A change in DMCA -Digital Millenium Copyright Act- makes it a crime to release mobile phones without permission from the operators of telephony. The purchased before the change can still be released but for those who acquire a new smartphone the options are few.

The change in the legislation occurred last October - it is the same modification that recognized the right of users to jailbreak their phones, although not on tablets (?) - but users have had a transition period 90 days until the modifications come into force.

The approval of the DMCA and specifically this measure, has caused the outrage of several consumer associations. Among others, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), which defends the rights and freedoms of users of the Internet and electronic devices, has questioned the legitimacy of this law.

The ban especially affects the user because the free phone market is very small. The majority buy smartphones subsidized by the operators and if you decide to buy a free phone you cannot always add it to a data contract. Operators do not always release phones purchased with a subsidy, not even when the minimum period of stay has ended.

In addition, this new measure will also make it more difficult to free second-hand mobile phones and sell them through auction portals such as eBay or, at the very least, it will make those who want to do so have to be much more careful with the chosen methods.

Sad news for mobile phone users in the United States. It remains to be seen how this measure would affect owners of Android phones or future Firefox OS or Ubuntu Phone OS.


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  1.   pandacriss said

    Now who sends stallman to shut up? He has been saying that this would happen for about 20 years. The only fair thing left to do is to violate the law. free your cell phones, gringos!
    “There are unjust laws. Will we be content to obey them? Will we endeavor to amend them, obeying them in the meantime? Or do we transgress them at once? If injustice requires your cooperation, break the law. " Thoreau

  2.   Let's use Linux said

    I fully agree with your comment. We always criticize him, he seems like a "paranoid" but the truth is that, once again, he ends up being right.