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.
Is jailbreaking your iPhone illegal?
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
January 5th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
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.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:50 am
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.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:51 am
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.
May 5th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
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
May 25th, 2009 at 9:07 am
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..
June 28th, 2009 at 12:30 am
what does it mean to create a back up?
July 13th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
its not illegal aslong oyu dont have instalous
August 4th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
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 ?????
August 12th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
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.
August 18th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
These people are retarded
August 24th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Once you’ve jailbreaked your iPod touch can u still acces iTunes strode and app store from your iPod touch?
September 25th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Yes you can Sam
September 28th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
hh
September 28th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
eat birds
September 28th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
How do you create a create a backup through iTunes of how your iPhone was originally
October 1st, 2009 at 7:30 pm
love it jail broken!!!!!!!!!!!
October 10th, 2009 at 11:59 am
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.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:31 am
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.
October 23rd, 2009 at 6:50 am
are you SURE its not iilegal? and how do you even do it?
October 23rd, 2009 at 6:52 am
http://www.ipodtouchfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144769 it says its illegel here….. s
October 24th, 2009 at 5:08 am
why is moddifying an xbox illegal if jailbreaking isn’t.
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:06 pm
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.
November 5th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
How do I back up my iPod
November 8th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
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
November 9th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
I nuted…
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:29 pm
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
December 13th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
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
December 13th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
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.
December 17th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
JAILBREAK FOREVER!!!!
December 29th, 2009 at 11:39 am
People also may think it is illegal to jailbreak phones because the cloning process that allows someone to steal service is associated with jailbreaking.
December 29th, 2009 at 11:44 am
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
January 10th, 2010 at 9:14 am
two questions
what is instalous
and what is and isnt illegal to do on a jailbroken ipod?
January 25th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
no it’s just frowned upon, like masterbating on an airplane