Have you ever found it annoying that you can only download apps for your iPhone from Apple's app store?
A number of people have complained about Apple's restrictive policy when it comes to applications. Even though there are thousands of apps available in Apple's store, all of those have met Apple's acceptance criteria. (Meanwhile Google has trumpeted its Android operating system as a more open alternative.)
Yesterday, however, the U.S. Copyright Office added new exceptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act that protect iPhone owners who "hack" their phones in order to install non-Apple approved acts. Previously, Apple could have requested a $2500 fine be levied against iPhone jailbreakers. (Has anyone heard of them doing this?)
While this will be an encouragement to at least the law-conscious jailbreakers out there, be careful. Apple can still void your warranty if you install non-Apple approved apps.
Also on Monday, the Copyright Office allowed an exemption to the DMCA allowing users to circumnavigate DVD copyright controls in order to burn parts of movies to use in their own artistic creations (like video montages). Of course, this doesn't mean it's legal to burn and distribute entire movies. This exception only applies to "fair use" of copyrighted materials. (Read Wikipedia's article about the legal meaning of fair use.)
Read CNN's report on the Copyright Office's decision for more information.
Does this ruling and the possibility of more openness when it comes to iPhone apps make buying an iPhone more appealing to you? Or do you agree with Apple about their store being the sole distribution point for iPhone apps?
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