RSS

Is it illegal to jailbreak your iPhone?

January 5, 2009

Apple News

iphone dev 300x268 Is it illegal to jailbreak your iPhone?

We get this question here at iPhoneSpies all the time, is it illegal to jailbreak your iPhone or iPod touch? First of all, what is jailbreaking?

What is Jailbreaking?

So what is iPhone Jailbreaking? Jailbreaking is the process one goes through which allows the installation of unofficial third-party applications. These unofficial applications are usually much cooler and much more useful then the official Apple approved apps you will find in the Apple App Store. These third-party apps do everything from changing the background of your iPhone, the app icon images, to letting you use the iPhones built-in camera to take video as well as pictures (who needs to wait for Apple to implement this?). Another popular type of unofficial third-party application is games. You can find these games on most of the popular iPhone jailbreaking forums, games from all the classic Mario Brothers titles to almost all of the Nintendo and Super Nintendo game emulators. You would never see these games on the Apple App Store, and if you did expect to pay top dollar for them! When you jailbreak your iPhone or iPod touch you open it up to a whole other world of possibilities. To be honest, the iPhone and iPod touch’s capabilities are not really taken advantage of unless you jailbreak it.

transformers 200x300 Is it illegal to jailbreak your iPhone? iphone nes 200x300 Is it illegal to jailbreak your iPhone?

Is jailbreaking your iPhone illegal?

iphone unlock 300x300 Is it illegal to jailbreak your iPhone?

So is jailbreaking the iPhone illegal? The short answer is no. You bought your iPhone so what you do with it is up to you, if something goes wrong with it and you bring it back to Apple and show them your jailbroken iPhone (which is a very stupid thing to do) they will most definitely void your warranty. If you do go ahead and jailbreak your iPhone or iPod touch it is a good idea to create a backup through iTunes of how your iPhone was originally, just in case you ever have to bring it back to Apple. Many of the third-party applications out there are made by developers who don’t own the rights to the games they leak on the jailbreaking forums, if this ever becomes an issue  simply go back to your backup or just delete them. There is a small chance of your iPhone or iPod touch turning into a brick, when your iPhone or iPod touch is unresponsive and useless. Just reset your iPhone by holding the home button and sleep button at the same time and reinstall the most current firmware update. I highly doubt Steve Jobs will come knocking on your door to see if you have a jailbroken iPhone or not so don’t worry too much, go ahead and jailbreak away! Just be sure to have your iPhone backed up and be ready to reset it when visiting the Genius Bar.

Want to jailbreak your iPhone or learn more about jailbreaking the iPhone? Check out our iPhone jailbreak how-to.

-Ray


About Ray Ibanez

View all posts by Ray Ibanez →

Subscribe to iPhoneSpies

Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter to receive updates.

  • http://iphoneblogwriter.blogspot.com Farik Osman

    Very true, jailbraking isn’t illegal. Downloading a paid app which is available on the app store freely, now THAT’S piracy. BUT who needs to buy from app store when you can get far more cooler apps on your iPhone. The other point which I like to bring out is, jail breaking gives a developer an opportunity to test their app on the iPhone, before deciding to put up them up in the app store or not.

    Remember what uncle Pete says, “With great powers comes great responsibility.

    By the way a note to jail breakers out there. If you’re sending your iPhone for servicing just Back Up your files, an Reset to Factory Default. You should be able to service your iPhone as per normal I think.

  • Jared Zoxopirezox

    I think jailbreaking isn’t illegal. But things you now do on it can be illegal, the free apps is like limewire, witch is illegal. and the Emulators, thats like stealing games like Mario.

  • Jared Zoxopirezox

    i forgot to say, it really is your own choice, you spent your money on it, it is your property so its just your decision.

  • http://www.myspace.com/imknownasthepistolwipper Dom

    I have psx rom source that works and is up to date go to me myspace or email and have fun and let me know wut u think

  • iphonefun

    I have an unlocked I phone, I jailbreaked it. In fact i think these companies like it. But i dont know if this is illegal. this egal question is probably on http://www.isitlegalto.com if not maybe somewhere else..

  • Anonymous

    what does it mean to create a back up?

  • bob

    its not illegal aslong oyu dont have instalous

  • Anny

    If you upgrated your Itouch to 3.0 I belive is called … And you jailbrake it can you restore it back to it’s 3.0 or will it go back to how you got it ?????

  • James

    It is not really illegal but apple claims that it voids your warranty. However, apple is pushing for a court order to make it illegal because some of the apps may cause the data towers to go down. This is particularly of their interest to banish outsourcing of the apps so they make more money. Greedy bastards.

  • Fucking Sally BJ

    These people are retarded

  • Sam W

    Once you’ve jailbreaked your iPod touch can u still acces iTunes strode and app store from your iPod touch?

  • Ray

    Yes you can Sam

  • Anonymous

    hh

  • Anonymous

    eat birds

  • Manny

    How do you create a create a backup through iTunes of how your iPhone was originally

  • anomny

    love it jail broken!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Anonymous

    The act of changing the OS on the iPhone may not be illegal. However, is the ‘Jail Broken’ firmware not a modification of an illegally reverse engineered software made by Apple?

    It sounds like it could be legal if only the replacement OS was open source, or made from scratch for this specific purpose.

  • John

    The illegal copying of software programs is a crime! In the United States and many other countries, copyright law provides for severe civil and criminal penalties for the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of copyrighted material. Copyrighted material includes, but is not limited to, computer programs and accompanying sounds, images and text. Under U.S. law, infringement may result in civil damages of up to $150,000 and/or criminal penalties of up to five years imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine.

    It should be noted that plenty of apps, iPhone or otherwise, ping a server for tracking purposes, such as those that offer ad-supported “free” versions. This could then be forwarded onto your service provider and account deactivated due to breach of contract.

  • Anonymous

    are you SURE its not iilegal? and how do you even do it?

  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous

    why is moddifying an xbox illegal if jailbreaking isn’t.

  • Garrett

    Effing hell.
    It amazes me how many people are retarded these days.

    Its illegal. End of story.
    You are essentially modifying the operating system without express permission from Apple.
    That in itself is only allowed for non commercial use. (IIRC)

    But considering most if not everyone is going to be using it for illigal content. The non commercial aspect is nulled.

    That being said. I have one. I download stuff with it. I know im doing something illegal. Man up and admit your breaking the law, people.

  • http://N/a Hill

    How do I back up my iPod

  • Anonomous

    how can i back it up and if i do will i get it back from when i backed it up or will it be all cleared

  • YoungDumbNfuLLOfCum

    I nuted…

  • kadlfkakdlfl

    For Garret Im sorry but its not illegal I’am currently in law school and have investigated this matter and found out jailbreaking is not illegal. Thank you

  • Gazi

    if you jailbreak an i- touch but dont download cracked apps but just download stuff like winterboard, is it illegal. And lets say u did bring it back to the store u bought it from, will they then void ur warranty. Please answer back ASAP.

    Thanks

  • Gazi

    LEts also say if ur ipod doesnt work but if u charge it, it heats up. Is that any sign that u have to completely repair it. Does it mean that the info on my touch is erased.

  • Richard

    JAILBREAK FOREVER!!!!

  • Resourcechris

    People also may think it is illegal to jailbreak phones because the cloning process that allows someone to steal service is associated with jailbreaking.

  • Resourcechris

    Jailbreaking does not infringe on A copy right unless you use the OS on a device other than the iPhone. IT IS NOT Ileagal to copy pirated material that you OWN. Even if you steal a reg code to crack it. Http://futuredope.com

  • aperson

    two questions

    what is instalous

    and what is and isnt illegal to do on a jailbroken ipod?

  • fafdf

    no it’s just frowned upon, like masterbating on an airplane

  • http://picturemats.blogspot.com/2009/08/logomat-shop-offers-indoor-logo-mats.html Archie Backers

    I was searching for a repair manual for my 2 year old xbox when I found your site. Great post. Thank You.

  • Macgyver

    Jailbreaking your iPod makes 25% of your life easier

  • http://www.gmail.com George

    I don’t have an iPhone or an iPod Touch.

    But Jailbreaking is totally illegal and it will get you in Jail.

  • Senor Snugglebottoms

    No one is really answering the qeustion “What do you mean backing Itunes” Would be nice to get an answer :) I have a 32 gig Ipod Touch and would not like to break it so im going to by a 8 gig and jailbreak it, I will not bother to do so if I manage to break my 32 gig, is it fixible like say it bricks or something like that.

  • John

    Jailbreaking itself is not illegal. It's what you do with it that's illegal. For example, say you want cheats for Zombie Farm. You can hack it to get unlimited money. But, if you get unlimited brains when it usually costs money (hence stealing) , that's illegal.

    • Ericbasin

      I fOund a video of apple sayin its illegal but since more the n 100,000 peeps jailbreak there is no possible way the goverment can track u down and every day more peeps jailbreak and apple are even more useless to do anything about it.

      • Bobby

        yeh ‘peeps’

  • Zane

    George you are a retard it will not get you in jail and even if you use an app like installous to get free apps there is hardly any chance you will be caught so go ahead and jailbreak it’s your iPod and you can do anything you want with it.

  • how about this

    i think that apple should just have it where you can do everything you can do in a jailbreak ………. so then people wouldnt have to worry about if it is illegal or legal and or worry about if it is safe or not safe and if apple did that they wouldnt have to worry about people unlocking there iphone and losing a customer

    • asjd;lja

      good idea except that many of the jailbroken apps are illegal and some are free remakes of appstore apps for free, but other than that i believe you are totally right, also i think thats what they were trying to do a bit of with the 4.0 update adding categories and theme changes but they have a lot of jb apps to pan out before it would be perfect

    • Cold

      Not how Apple works. They're a closed consumer environment. Nothing allowed inside other than what is Apple-approved. That's the thing with Apple. Beautiful, elegant, sleek, and efficient; but with no personal freedom.

      • Skynyrdtillidie

        Just like Russia LOL

  • how about this

    i think that apple should just have it where you can do everything you can do in a jailbreak ………. so then people wouldnt have to worry about if it is illegal or legal and or worry about if it is safe or not safe and if apple did that they wouldnt have to worry about people unlocking there iphone and losing a customer

  • Grguru
  • jf;aldjfl;a

    if you use an app like mobile theatre and only download via wifi will apple b able to tell if you dont sync with itunes

  • Zorop

    It IS illegal, As Jailbreaking comes under Theft. You get all applications for free, And any other software for free.

    • Bobby

      no it doesnt you gay. you get apps for free, because they are on there for free. not stolen. fool

  • Bamagirl80

    It is NOT illegal!!! It’s legal. Just voids your apple warranty!

  • Uufyx Hghknn

    Is jailbreaking IN THE UK illegal????
    Yes or no that’s all not a full page just
    Yes or no!!

  • Minecraftp1492

    apple will get more costumers if they made jailbreak legal which it is and they should accept it when it breaks from jailbreaking. they’d get tons of more comtumers and such!

  • Ddddddddd

    it is legal

  • Tylersutton32

    I just want to know should I do it or not I really want to Et cydia but I don’t know how

  • LOL

    LOL  at megan fox :)

  • LOL

    LOL  at megan fox :)

  • Denverbroncofan1999

    It is illegal

  • Denverbroncofan1999

    It is illegal

  • Dralex6

    if you get free songs and games than its illeagal

  • Dralex6

    if you get free songs and games than its illeagal

  • Dralex6

    if you get free songs and games than its illeagal

  • Kdkig

    In my opinion jailbreaking is illegal
    1.because of free apps
    2. You get wifi everywhere you go even when you didnt pay
    3.You can hack games i hacked a few online games and my device information was fowarded to apple thats what they told me

  • Kdkig

    In my opinion jailbreaking is illegal
    1.because of free apps
    2. You get wifi everywhere you go even when you didnt pay
    3.You can hack games i hacked a few online games and my device information was fowarded to apple thats what they told me

  • silvana popovska

    Unlock All mobile phone

    Jailbreak iPhone 5

    http://unlock-all-phone.blogspot.com/p/jailbreak-iphone-5.html

  • silvana popovska

    Unlock All mobile phone

    Jailbreak iPhone 5

    http://unlock-all-phone.blogspot.com/p/jailbreak-iphone-5.html

  • silvana popovska

    Unlock All mobile phone

    Jailbreak iPhone 5

    http://unlock-all-phone.blogspot.com/p/jailbreak-iphone-5.html

  • Treyrichie

    i think they should let us do what ever they allready get millions of dollers