The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that will make it legal once again for consumers to unlock their devices.
The passage is a muted victory, however, because language was added to the bill that weakens it. “The new language specifically excluding bulk unlocking could indicate that the drafters believe that phone unlocking has something to do with copyright law,” said Public Knowledge.
“Consumers should be able to unlock their phones without fear of liability, and for many of them, this bill will restore that ability. But as it stands, H.R. 1123 represents the need for further change to the DMCA, as represented in HR 1892, the Unlocking Technology Act sponsored by Rep. Zoe Lofgren.” It is unknown if the Senate will consider the bill. Separately, the NTIA and the FCC have mandated that wireless network operators make it easier for consumers to unlock their devices.
The largest carriers plan to implement several unlocking policies beginning in March, with other policies to fall into place throughout the rest of the year.
