U.S Copyright Office Issues New Rights
π
ArmySF said:
NEW YORK - Cell phone owners will be allowed to break software locks on their handsets in order to use them with competing carriers under new copyright rules announced Wednesday.
Army, do you have the link? This was not expected unil after January and the MacWorld conference. Steve Jobs of Apple was the mastermind.
what does this mean to us right away, there are other links just google it
ArmySF said:
http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerar ... »
what does this mean to us right away, there are other links just google it
That's a great link, Army. Thank you.
For Cell phone reuse, the one link said:
Why Should You Have to Get a New Phone?
Today, many consumers would like to be able to keep their cell phone handset or multi-functional handheld computer (PDA) when they switch to a new cell phone service using a compatible network. Letting consumers re-use handsets, another term for cell phone, saves moneyβand saves the environment by keeping otherwise usable handsets out of landfills. But a cell phone company practice that preve...
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If true, then CDMA carriers would be exempt from this ruling, right?
ArmySF said:
This looks very promising
From Businessweek:
"In granting the exemption for cell phone users, the Copyright Office determined that consumers aren't able to enjoy full legal use of their handsets because of software locks that wireless providers have been placing to control access to phones' underlying programs."
not2brite said:
What are considered "underlying programs"?
Ha ha. Full as Qualified Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, OEM user interface, etc.
not2brite said:
Then it wouldn't apply to being able to use handsets on other carriers, just the obex stuff and UI mess et. al.???
Both. Read the Business Week article. They want handset portability and access to underlying programs.
CDMA to CDMA, GSM to GSM, now I could see that happen...and goodbye handset subsidies. Handset prices would go up, and the public would be even more outraged! Ah, our government at work just because of the UI on Verizon phones...
not2brite said:
I did read the article...if you want handset portability, it'll never happen 'cause you will never be able to use a current T-Mobile handset on a Verizon network...unless the laws recognize that point.
CDMA to CDMA, GSM to GSM, now I could see that happen...and goodbye handset subsidies. Handset prices would go up, and the public would be even more outraged! Ah, our government at work just because of the UI on Verizon phones...
You're half right. I agree that you will never be able to use a current T-Mobile handset on a Verizon network; CDMA to CDMA, GSM to GSM as you say. "Compatible network" is what our Bill was pushing.
On the handest subsidies, and phone cost, the contracts aren...
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not2brite said:
With the obex allowed, how do you rationalize the sharing of copyrighted materials with this bill?
The ruling doesn't concern itself with OBEX. There are other laws which provide those protections.
Maybe it should. The way things stand right now, you can buy the rights to a ringtone from a third party and not use it on your phone. The carriers are locking the ringtone folder.
The apps are different, like software, you can only use them on one phone. Again, OBEX has nothing to do with it.
not2brite said:
Buy rights to ringtones? There are so many pirated apps and ringtones out there now, if VZW allowed full OBEX, they would help proliferate the use of pirated software and music. As it is now, the apps are fully legal as they are paid for when they are acquired by the enduser, and the royalties are then paid to the creator or entertainer, right?
No, you buy a song on a CD. You shouldn't have to buy it again to load it to your phone. That's what is happening now.
not2brite said:
and your friends phone, and their friends phone, and on and on from the one CD-one royalty for the artist or software writer...
Copyrights include legal rights to commercialize, license, transfer, broadcast or reproduce an original piece of work, irrespective of its supporting media.
The carriers were blocking that, is what the ruling says.
I also cannot "commercialize, license, etc." another artist's intellectual property that has been copyrighted without violating copyright laws.
My reading is the ruling says that you cannot lock your handset to a particular network. No mention of copying artists ringtones and using bluetooth to transfer that to someone else without paying a royalty.
not2brite said:
I beg to differ with you...If I own a bar and want to play any music I bought on my personal CD, I could not do that without a license from ASCAP or the artist's license holder.
I also cannot "commercialize, license, etc." another artist's intellectual property that has been copyrighted without violating copyright laws.
My reading is the ruling says that you cannot lock your handset to a particular network. No mention of copying artists ringtones and using bluetooth to transfer that to someone else without paying a royalty.
Read this, beginning around page 50:
http://www.copyright.gov/1201/docs/1201_recommendati ... »
not2brite said:
Don't want to sound like an arse, but are these issues such a huge issue that it would want to limit company profits for VZW or any other similar carrier?
They got greedy. Pigs get fat but hogs get slaughtered.
They should have never forced handsets to push free services over their pay-for carrier network, like Bluetooth.
not2brite said:
Then it wouldn't apply to being able to use handsets on other carriers, just the obex stuff and UI mess et. al.???
good question -but i dont think thats all the bill entails, its the ability to physically take your phone to another carriers.
Right?
Sprint74 said:
does this mean the blade from sprint would be able to be activated and used on verizon's network?
Yes- as crazy as that sounds that exactly what this means.
ArmySF said:Sprint74 said:
does this mean the blade from sprint would be able to be activated and used on verizon's network?
Yes- as crazy as that sounds that exactly what this means.
And Verizon would have to enable the GIN, VCast and other features you wanted to buy.
The phones would have to be flashed onto the network, without locking out the native features, as part of the activation fee.
majorxero said:
I don't think so. The copyright exemption only talks about software lock-outs. VZW doesn't allow non-VZW devices on their network and that's done by way of the network itself, not the phone. They block out non-VZW ESNs. I don't think this would affect VZW.
The copyright exemption talks about two kinds of "locks", first the usual carrier network lock, and then the software lock to access copyrighted material. The second part would affect any phone, whether GSM or CDMA.
Indeed, there does not appear to be any concern over protecting access to the Copyrighted work itself. The purpose of the software lock appears to be limiting the owners use of the mobile handset to support a bus...
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I would assume it would free up the handset to receive calls but not to do anything else, the handset would need to be flashed...thereby voiding any prior warranty...it's another moneymaking opportunity for carriers...once again I forecast $150 activation fee for non-carrier specific handsets!
not2brite said:
Apparently the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many!
Welcome to America.
Always shooting for the Lowest Common Denominator! The dummification of a nation!
satch of the moe said:
pretty much. this proves the idiots dont know much. basically telling the customer here you can use this high end phone to just make calls. have a great day. π
And you don't think Verizon will find a way to get VCast and BroadBand access onto any phone that is compatible with it's subscriber network?
satch of the moe said:
possible. But i think this will take some time as usual. Plus it depends it the manufacturer will let them know on how to completly empty the phone initall programming and then install a new programming. Since as far as i know the flash updates are not the full os it is just like install a sp 2 on win xp.
You can flash a phone from carrier to carrier right now with leaked software. It's just not legal until Monday.
http://www.humpa.com/vzw/ »
not2brite said:
Yeah, I know...and I can't possibly see how this issue is a needs issue anyway...
It's not a needs issue. It is a Copyright issue.
Legal rights to commercialize, license, transfer, broadcast or reproduce an original piece of work, irrespective of its supporting media.
Sprint74 said:
so if i brought in a sprint phone to be activated with verizon would the phone still get vcast etc? i have the blade now and might do that if verizon doesn't put their UI on my blade....that would be sad βΉοΈ
Yes, if Verizon wanted to collect another $15 per month from you, they would gladly provide that programming.
Actually, the trend of flashing your phone from home is catching on. It began with Treo, and now Nokia and Motorola.
Last week, there were only 2 carriers listed here, now look:
http://direct.motorola.com/hellomoto/motosupport/sou ... »
As a sprint user I already have access to verizon network so why dumb down my phone?
Enjoy
http://www.copyright.gov/1201/docs/1201_recommendati ... »
Indeed, there does not appear to be any concern over protecting access to the Copyrighted work itself. The purpose of the software lock appears to be limiting the owners use of the mobile handset to support a business model, rather than to protect access to a Copyrighted work itself.
The ability to unilaterally reprogram the firmware may well extend to the ability to universally revamp the permissions system for accessing and using ringtones, sa ...
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will be LEGAL...you wont be able to walk in a verizon store with your fusic and say activated please.
From my understand an example would be those who have been putting Alltel UI on there verizon phones that was illegal before and on Monday it wont be.
Wireless Buddy said:
but it seemed like you could use your phone on another carrier's network as long as they both use the same technology. π
i don't bro I think most are still at the confused level, I'm pretty sure its not about taking any sprint phone in and having it activated, it will be interesting to see how this all plays out..
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1050159 ... »
More reading but same confusion
One of the restrictions is an ESN white list.
You can only use the ESNs on the white list so you would have to change the Fusic's ESN to one on the Verizon White List. However, that's probably not all you have to do. If there's someone who knows more than I, please fill in. π
Sprint does a similar thing.
http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/cnbc- ... »
LL Cool Jake said:
Please stop posting the same link time after time again-STOP acting like you know what you're talking about cuz you dont.
Jake, I own stock in Apple and have that information. But if you are still doubtful, dig into Yahoo Finance (AAPL), CNN Money, Business Week and Forbes magazines for more stats or if you are skeptical of the fanboys. Read their prospectus. Take a look at the last 6 months!
Watch their stock on Monday too.
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=AAPL&t=6m »