What is illegal/allowed??? Hypocrytical at times?

[Guest nickcornaglia]

With ROM images out for the MPx200 and Unlocking services here and there...it's tough to understand what is illegal/not illegal, or allowed/not allowed on MoDaCo.

I've read some threads where the MPx200 ROM is frowned upon. But I often see that SIM unlocking services are not. This seems to be contradictory.

If a ROM image is stolen...that's one thing.

If a ROM image is unofficially released...that's another.

If it is developed/hacked by a user...that's another, as well.

I would think that Orange or any other carrier would tend to lose alot more money with unlocking their phones (and bringing them to other carriers) than on new ROMS.

So what are the rules in the real world?

What are the rules here at MoDaCo?

[Guest Monolithix [MVP]]

ROM licensing is tricky, i don't really want to get into that...(but basically it comes down to what i've said below, the handset is yours to do with as you wish, legal difficulties arise when you get onto the subject of distribution of non-official firmware...)

SIM unlocking (in the UK) is perfectly legal. The handset belongs to you, so you can do what you like with it. Your only contract with the operator is to continue payment of your monthly usage on time and in full until the contract expires. Like i say, this is as far as applies in the UK.

[Guest Paul [MVP]]

Exactly as Monolithix says encece, Hacked ROM images are illegal, SIM unlock is perfectly legal (in the UK at least).

Q.E.D.

P