The CTIA (Cellular Telephone Industries Assocation), better known as The Wireless Association, has a message for anyone thrilled with yesterday’s Library of Congress DMCA ruling:
Not. So. Fast.
The Library of Congress had issued a ruling on the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, and it’s this section that has CTIA so hot and bothered:
Persons making noninfringing uses of the following six classes of works will not be subject to the prohibition against circumventing access controls (17 U.S.C. § 1201(a)(1)) until the conclusion of the next rulemaking.
…
(2) Computer programs that enable wireless telephone handsets to execute software applications, where circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of enabling interoperability of such applications, when they have been lawfully obtained, with computer programs on the telephone handset.
(3) Computer programs, in the form of firmware or software, that enable used wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telecommunications network, when circumvention is initiated by the owner of the copy of the computer program solely in order to connect to a wireless telecommunications network and access to the network is authorized by the operator of the network.
Hackers interpreted this as Jailbreak your iPhone Guilt-free, and the Android Community, while not affected by the restrictive App Store, saw it as The Right to Root. Many Android phones do not allow the user to change or modify all files, by restricting “root access.” Gaining root also allows custom ROMs on some phones. (Others, in particular the hot new Motorola DroidX, have hardware roadblocks in place that prevent it from operating should you try installing custom ROM.)
The CTIA states otherwise in their press release. Sure, they say, you may have the right to alter your phone’s software, but watch out! You may be opening yourself up to malware, spyware, and all sorts of horrible things. Plus, you could void your warranty. So Listen To Us, We Know Best.