Free Your Phone

Last month, EFF filed proposals with the Copyright Office seeking DMCA exemptions to cover mobile phone ‘unlocking’ (allowing the phone to be used on any carrier’s network) and ‘jailbreaking’ (allowing the phone to run any software). Carriers like MetroPCS and Pocket Communications have also asked for an unlocking exemption, but the Copyright Office needs to hear from users, too. That’s where you come in.

  • Ever wanted to unlock your cell phone to take it to another carrier?
  • Frustrated by not being able to swap SIM cards when taking your phone overseas?
  • Eager to unlock an iPhone to use it on T-Mobile instead of AT&T?
  • Need to ‘jailbreak’ your iPhone in order to install the great applications that Apple won’t allow into the iTunes App Store?
  • Want to get (and keep) root on your Android G1 phone?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, please visit FreeYourPhone.org and sign EFF’s petition and tell your story. The Copyright Office granted an unlocking exemption in 2006 based in part on input for individual users. This year, we can renew that exemption and expand it to cover ‘jailbreaking,’ too, with your help.

(Via EFF.org Updates.)

About Brian Greenberg

Brian Greenberg is a technology and product leader, Forbes contributor, and is a member of the Forbes Technology Council. He lives in Chicago and has been working at companies of all sizes from the Fortune 100 to startups for over 30 years including international experience as an expatriate in Japan and Europe. In addition to being part of the Adjunct Faculty in the College of Computing and Digital Media at DePaul University, Brian Greenberg is an award winning CIO & CTO, considered a dynamic, entrepreneurial, and visionary leader, accomplished at strategic planning, process improvement, product development, and reengineering of key business processes. Highly successful in achieving financial results through strong customer loyalty and long term relationships with suppliers and vendors. Ability to achieve business results through strategic application of technology to business challenges. Readily pursues "stretch goals", not afraid to take risks, and is grounded in a strong teamwork approach. Regarded as a skilled communicator, team builder and negotiator who maximizes efficiencies and productivity through boosting employee morale and performance. Brian Greenberg has expertise in digital transformation, automation, turnaround management, security, data storage, and data protection. He is also a storyteller and an improvisor in Chicago’s comedy community.