iPhone hacking
Last week, a teenager named George Hotz announced that he had a hack for the iPhone that allowed it be run on the TMobile network. Apple and AT&T have an exclusive deal that forces US iPhone customers to get service through AT&T’s network, but instructions Hotz has posted on his personal blogs gives customers instructions to move their iPhone to another phone network. Hotz was praised for his work by many media outlets and bloggers, with many praising his work as a way to give customers what they want. Finally, iPhone customers can leave AT&T’s horrible network and make their own decision. Great, right?
Well, I don’t think so. I think that Apple and AT&T have a legitimate argument against Hotz that his actions have violated their rights to their respective property. For Apple, that property is control over the iPhone. Apple created the device, and they should be able to decide who they want to sell it to or through. For AT&T, that’s control over property they’ve obtained through a deal with another company. AT&T signed a deal with Apple to be the exclusive dealer of service for Apple’s phone. These two companies made a deal to work exclusively with one another, and they should be able to so without being interference from the government, from thieves, or from hackers. Hotz’s actions may seem innocent, but they will cause real damage to a relationship between two big companies.
When I refer to Hotz’s “actions,” I’m talking about his decision to post the hacking instructions on his blog, not the actual hacking of the iPhone. If Hotz had just hacked his own iPhone and used it on his TMobile network, AT&T and Apple wouldn’t even know about it, let alone face any real damage. Damage was done when he posted the instructions on his blog, though. Those posts damaged the ability for AT&T and Apple to use their property as they saw fit — which is something that the government should protect.
Many people will say, “I bought my iPhone, I should get to do what I want with it.” That’s right, but only in a certain context. If we’re just talking about the physical device packaged in a box you purchased at a store, then yes, you own that device. However, if the context is who owns the right to the iPhone brand, the right to decide who sells iPhones, and the right to the software that is released with an iPhone, then no, Apple owns the iPhone. Those are the rights Hotz’s actions damaged. Now it doesn’t matter that Apple wants to make an exclusive deal with AT&T with their own property, and why? Because hackers say that the iPhone should be open.
Hotz is not the only person doing this. Another company has announced that they have software that will unlock the iPhone, without the soldering that Hotz’s hack requires. I don’t think that Apple and Hotz are going to sue a teenager, but I think they should go to the courts to stop these types of companies from violating their ability to control their own property. If people want Apple to use other networks, they should ask. If people want better prices and better network performance from AT&T, they should ask. Negotiate. Sign petitions, show that there is a big demand for better service. Just don’t take from them.
Tags: [george hotz, hacking, iPhone]