It would be good to see this one overturned. But for other products you buy but don't own look at patented seeds. You can buy the corn seed but you can't legally use the corn you grow for seed.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
This is the type of thing that caused me not to go to the iPhone 5 and instead bought a Nexus 4.... I'm unlocked an working without a contract... And feel pretty dang free!!!
I suppose the phone company would argue that you don't own your phone - you have a limited license to use it.
(in which case, business/contract law should cover intellectual property concerns).
Your best option --- give a contribution to the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
To me, the bigger story is the Library of Congress bureaucrats deciding these detail laws. Not a big cell phone user, and I prefer to buy my equipment up front whether it is internet modems, dish receivers, etc etc. I recently had Skybeam try to start charging me rental for equipment I bought 7 years ago from Wispertel. Ugghhh. SOBs.. Save your receipts people!
From OP article theAtlantic
"Conservatives should be leading the discussion on fixing this problem. Conservatives are understandably skeptical of agencies and unelected bureaucrats wielding a large amount of power to regulate, and are proponents of solutions like the REINS Act (which has over 121 co-sponsors). However, if Congress truly wants to rein in the power of unelected bureaucrats, then they must first write laws in a narrow manner and avoid the need for intervention by the Librarian of Congress to avoid draconian consequences, such as making iPhone jail-breakers and smartphone un-lockers criminals, or taking away readable books for the blind.
If conservatives are concerned of unelected bureaucrats deciding upon regulations which could have financial consequences for businesses, then they should be more worried about unelected bureaucrats deciding upon what is or isn't a felony punishable by large fines and jail time for our citizens. And really, why should unelected bureaucrats decide what technological choices you can make with your smartphone? These laws serve to protect the interests of a few companies and create and maintain barriers to entry."
If you want to be, press one. If you want not to be, press 2
Republicans are red, democrats are blue, neither of them, gives a flip about you.