30,000 Signatures Needed in 8 Days for Government Response to Unlocking Petition

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Posted February 16, 2013 at 4:05am by Shalom Levytam

There is only 8 days left to accumulate the additional 30,000 petition signatures required for an official response from Washington on making cell phone unlocking legal.

The Librarian of Congress decided in October 2012 that unlocking of cell phones would be removed from the exceptions to the DMCA. As of January 26, consumers will no longer be able unlock their phones for use on a different network without carrier permission, even after their contract has expired. Consumers will be forced to pay exorbitant roaming fees to make calls while traveling abroad. It reduces consumer choice, and decreases the resale value of devices that consumers have paid for in full. The Librarian noted that carriers are offering more unlocked phones at present, but the great majority of phones sold are still locked. We ask that the White House ask the Librarian of Congress to rescind this decision, and failing that, champion a bill that makes unlocking permanently legal.

Sina Khanifar, the person who started the petition, says "With the unlocking exemption removed, it’s only a matter of time before entrepreneurs and consumers are once again bullied by carriers and manufacturers seeking to protect their profits by constraining consumer choice. Next time around, a Verizon, AT&T, or Apple will likely take the case to court, and it’s possible that someone will end up in jail."

The Electronic Frontier Foundation recently said "It's absurd that this small group of copyright lawyers and librarians is tasked with making decisions about the future of electronics markets." We strongly urge that you sign the petition as soon as possible to ensure that Washington addresses this issue.

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30,000 Signatures Needed in 8 Days for Government Response to Unlocking Petition

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Illan - October 23, 2013 at 7:28pm

I want unlock iphone at&t

justabrake - February 21, 2013 at 1:52pm

I just tried to unlock mine and it still says AT&T 14.0 !, I did like the instructions said

justabrake - February 21, 2013 at 2:09pm

MY mistake it said it in itunes it was unlocked I thought it was suppose to say it on the iphone my mistake, Thanks SwiftUnlocks

Ly Hoang - February 21, 2013 at 5:18am

go go go vote vote vote :)

justabrake - February 18, 2013 at 11:56pm

done that five minutes ago ! good deal

Mr.D - February 18, 2013 at 11:58pm

Thank you for your support.

Tito - February 19, 2013 at 9:36pm

WOW, that's awesome. Thanks!

mtaman201 - February 20, 2013 at 11:36pm

Got my phone unlocked and signed it. Only 8k signatures to go!

Mazcech - February 18, 2013 at 11:45pm

Everyone please vote this is an important case for phone shops everywhere as well as people who provide unlocking services! Who cares if you need to register just do it!!!!

Amsterdamboomer - February 18, 2013 at 12:21pm

nice that people from europe can vote too !

Laws - February 18, 2013 at 5:11am

We need 28,010 votes in one week. Not going to happen.

AHA - February 21, 2013 at 1:44pm

As you were saying 3 days ago we wouldn't get the signatures?

justabrake - February 17, 2013 at 1:21pm

There would be no problem getting signatures if you didn't have to register,That's the problem

Gottfried - February 17, 2013 at 7:14pm

You should be able to get around that pretty easily. I hear that it is pretty easy to vote in the USA even if you are not a citizen.

Mas22 - February 17, 2013 at 11:30am

Remember, the U.S. government is a 'corporation' and all corporations must protect their investments. Locking devices to a specific carrier gives them more power and profits, why would they want to give that up ? In my opinion, every device sold should be unlocked so the consumer can choose which company they want to use for cellular service, the government should not make the decision for the consumer. I am surprised that there isn't a cellular company called 'one choice'...

Majid - February 17, 2013 at 9:19am

Can I sign the petition even if I am not living in United States ?

Mr.D - February 17, 2013 at 9:32pm

Yes, anyone can sign it, regardless of citizenship/nationality.

Waleesa - February 17, 2013 at 7:37am

Can non-US citizens sign the petition? I mean non-citizens who are not domiciled in the US?

Spencer - February 17, 2013 at 1:06am

It is illegal for a network to LOCK A PHONE, in the greater part of the world.!! All AMERICAN CELL PHONE NETWORK, should be forced, by the AMERICAN LEGISLATION, to UNLOCK - any and all cell phones..!! As the rest of the world has proved, it shows poor character, in an organisation that will limit the use of a cell phone device to only one network.. AMERICAN LEGISLATION - please make sure that ALL AMERICAN CELL PHONE NETWORKS supply ONLY UNLOCKED CELL PHONE DEVICES.!! It will force cell networks to deliver superior services.!!!!

pimpin17 - February 16, 2013 at 10:50pm

Signed

Unlock - February 16, 2013 at 10:33pm

I don't care what the gov say. I will alway unlock my phone When ever I want it's my phone I do what ever I want.

Jimmy - February 16, 2013 at 9:32pm

Problem is that all a successful petition can accomplish is requiring a response from the White House. It doesn't require a MEANINGFUL response from the White House. Therefore, it is a waste of time. Simply another Obama maneuver to pretend that he cares what people think.

Matt - February 16, 2013 at 5:48pm

I don't care I ready unlock mine so is it my money

Hung - February 16, 2013 at 5:17pm

Since when did the fucking library are allow to make rules and regulations? Only and only the supreme court have that decision! What is next? Are they gonna make rules on how we should live our lives? The library of congress needs to withdraw that decision and step down and let the supreme court do their job. Thats what they were appointed to do, not the Library of Congress!

hhgf - February 16, 2013 at 1:29pm

29.902 to go

Strategy... - February 16, 2013 at 10:32am

First of all, let me tell you that I'm french and that I support you! However, wouldn't it be better to make locking any phone ILLEGAL INSTEAD ? Why a carrier would lock a phone anyway... it's yours when you have bought it!

justabrake - February 16, 2013 at 12:23pm

well if you look at it from the carriers side they buy them and sell to you and you purchased it locked from them, now if you bought straight from the manufacturer then it should be unlocked because their is no carrier involved so IMO if the carrier wants to unlock it for you then that is up to them

Molle - February 16, 2013 at 8:34am

About the 200% tax on gasoline and VAT: How about "people who care more about the future of the environment and the welfare of each and every citizen, as opposed to having more money to themselves"?

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