Short answer: No. 99% of you have nothing to worry about. Here’s why and how to know if your safe.
Background
The US Librarian Of Congress choose that an a great exemption which allowed smart phones to be unlocked under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The DMCA makes it legal for you to copy digital content from a CD or DVD and use it in a digital form on the format of your choice – such as a phone or tablet. It is also what makes it legal for you to unlock your iPhone (completely legally) and use it on the network of your choice – Because once you own the the device/content – the DMCA says that it is your right as a consumer to be able to use that device/content on other mediums (such as another network if you choose). So that’s the background.
Bottom Line
Because they decided that an exemption to smart phones will no longer apply this now means that if you purchased your phone AFTER January 26, 2013 it is illegal for you to unlock your phone – Unless your wireless carrier gives you permission to do so (which wouldn’t be in their best interest.) This mean’s that as long as you bought your phone on January 25 and before – it is perfectly legal for you to unlock you phone and use it on a different carrier (Which is often a great way to save money!)
So right now there is a small minority of people who can’t unlock their phone. But – if you just bought your phone within the last few months – you wouldn’t want to unlock it to go to a different carrier anyway because you likely signed a 2 year contact with terrible penalties for canceling early. But if your 2 year contract is up – you are in the clear to unlock and move to a different carrier like t-mobile.
I hope this article was helpful for all of you out there wondering if you can do this. I am about to do it myself and switch to T-mobile. Stay tuned to this site to see how easy it is to make the switch from ATT to t-mobile!
Dad Life 