iPhone developers who have had a rough time getting their apps included in the app store might consider supporting the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s (EFF) proposal for a DMCA exemption that would allow “jailbreaking”. Jailbreaking is simply a way to circumvent the software locks Apple uses to prevent iPhone users from using 3rd party applications that aren’t downloaded from the app store. And yes I know, tons of people have already done it but it’s not exactly legal. It’s also different from unlocking which allows iPhone’s to work outside of exclusive carriers.
If the EFF gets its way with the United States Copyright Office, the proposal would exempt jailbreaking from the DMCA for 3 years.
As part of its argument, the EFF is alleging that Apple’s software locks are anti-competitive as the company often prevents apps from entering iTune’s if they compete with Apple in any way. This is likely the reason there hasn’t been a turn-by-turn navigation app available for the iPhone yet. Way back TomTom had one ready to go and 7 or 8 months later, still nothing.
If you’re interested in supporting the proposal, the EFF recommends submitting supportive comments to the Copyright Office. You have until February 2, 2009 to do so though a final decision won’t be made until October.
