Apple Stands Up Against Jailbreaking
New York - It seems like Apple is having some issues these days with iPhone users using “jaibreaking software” on their iPhones. “Jailbreaking” refers to using non-Apple software to get rid of the restrictions or to disable the restrictions that are on the iPhone. These restrictions are in place to limit iPhone users to using only Apple approved software or programs, namely products that you can buy from the Apple store.
Apple has recently filed a complaint about people using “jailbreaking” software on their iPhones; this complaint was filed with the US Patent office and the Copyright office. Apple is known for making it where people to have to use their products on their applications, so this shouldn’t come as a shock to iPhone users.
With Apple products having compatibility issues with non-Apple software, “jailbreaking” software has provided a way to get around these issues; however Apple doesn’t believe that it is legal. Apple believes that this is none other than copyright infringement on their Apple iPhone and the programs that are installed on it; they also believe that this “jailbreaking” software could make piracy way to easy. Apple also believes that the removal of restrictions on their iPhones would hinder the phones built in protective measures and that the phones could possibly be hurt by automatic updates. In addition Apple has fears that unapproved software installations on iphones might go beyond the limits of the iphone and could have the potential of hindering the whole network.
This may seem like a harsh move by Apple, but it is not entirely unwarranted. The Electronic Frontier Foundation recently has been trying to move towards making the removal of such restrictions on programs a guarantee right. This is Apple’s way of countering this move by the EFF.
The EFF wasn’t too happy with the complaint that Apple filed with the US Patent office and the Copyright office, and they issued their own statement citing that the complaint made by Apple was ridiculous. They said that a lot of people use “jailbreaking” to download programs that have certain features that they want that the Apple store does not carry.
What this argument basically boils down to is one of fair use and the right of ownership, we will have to wait and see what the outcome will be. Meanwhile though, the Apple store is continually growing and gives this reminder to iPhone users about using “jailbreaking” software; if you use “jailbreaking” software on your iPhone you nullify the warranty.