Will installing Ubuntu Phone be illegal in the USA?

[AllWires]

Hi,

In the USA there was a law passed recently that makes it illegal to bypass the bootloader security of a device.

Does this mean that it will be illegal to install Ubuntu Phone and Tablet on devices with locked bootloaders (e.g., the Nexus 7)?

[Mark Phelps]

IF I was you, I'd worry more about if such a thing is even possible given that, according to a write-up on Verizon's approach:

By way of the encrypted bootloader, the device is effectively made worthless because when a new carrier flashes their software to the phone, the bootloader recognizes it as "Unapproved Software" and puts the device into a boot loop.

To me, this means that even if you COULD flash a Verizon phone with Ubuntu, it still would not work.

[Cheesemill]

Also Ubuntu phone is not meant as a product for users to install on their own mobile phones. It is intended as a product for mobile phone manufacturers to ship devices with already installed.

It may be possible for users to install it on some models of phone, but only after someone does the work of porting it for that specific model. This may or may not happen for any particular model.

[iponeverything]

Not every phone in the US is carrier locked or required to be.

no need to unlock an unlocked phone,so laws broken in the case of a google phone.

[txbahai]

Seems interesting, I think it will be a long time before we see Ubuntu on phones in the US from any major carrier.

[BonceyDoesLinux]

Is anyone going to care if you bypassed the bootloader? It's your phone. Most US laws are stupid, and the people that keep reinstating these SOPA and PIPA stuff.

[oldos2er]

Moved to Mobile Technology Discussions.

[Danny1234]

I don't think it is illegal.It is just like an app.

[CloakandPigeon]

Is anyone going to care if you bypassed the bootloader? It's your phone. Most US laws are stupid, and the people that keep reinstating these SOPA and PIPA stuff.

Locking phones to carriers should be illegal. There is already a contract holding you to pay monthly for 2-3 years, no reason to lock the phone down.

I don't think it is illegal.It is just like an app.

http://gizmodo.com/5978982/unlocking...rting-tomorrow

[3rdalbum]

Seems interesting, I think it will be a long time before we see Ubuntu on phones in the US from any major carrier.

The first products are meant to be coming out next year. Is that long enough?

Besides, this thread has nothing to do with bootloaders or official Ubuntu Phone devices. Removing the network lock on a phone is illegal in the USA, but that has nothing to do with the operating system on the phone.