Jailbreaking the iPhone is OK, Library of Congress decides

It is legal for iPhone users to "jailbreak" their phones to run applications not approved by Apple, the Library of Congress announced Monday.

The decision is among a few exemptions issued to Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) rules that prevent users from tampering with devices to override barriers to unauthorized use, according to the AP. The library, which oversees the Copyright Office, reviews the rules every three years.

Jailbreaking the iPhone allows users to run applications not vetted by Apple. Application developers sometimes complain that Apple rejects their software for unfounded reasons.

The caveat to the new rules:

They "won't stop Apple from continuing its practice of disabling jailbroken phones with software upgrades. That means owners of such phones might not be able to take advantage of software improvements, and they still run the risk of voiding their warranty," AP says.

In addition, AP wrote the following list of other new permissions afforded on Monday. Exemptions will:

• allow owners of used cell phones to break access controls on their phones in order to switch wireless carriers;

• allow people to break technical protections on video games to investigate or correct security flaws;

• allow college professors, film students and documentary filmmakers to break copy-protection measures on DVDs so they can embed clips for educational purposes, criticism, commentary and noncommercial videos;

• allow computer owners to bypass the need for external security devices called 'dongles' if the dongle no longer works and cannot be replaced; and

• allow blind people to break locks on electronic books so that they can use them with read-aloud software and similar aids.