topic Re: Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications in Android

Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 12:35:14 GMT

Hello all,

Recent conversation regarding bootloader unlocking with Sony Customer 'Support' have told me that although I am now SIM free from O2 my firmware is still locked to O2 and they cannot help me with unlocking the bootloader to enable me to update to Generic firmware due to legal reasons.

I am familiar with flashtool and have sucessfully updated my firmware to .45 and .50 but have had to backtrack to .453 due to issues with the app tray refusing to show apps after page 3.

Does anyone have any information why it is illegal for sony to unlock my bootloader and any ways out there that I can do it manually.

Also, does anyone else have the page 3 app tray issue? I've tried re-flashing a few times with no success (They were all stock Generic firmwares as as stated my bootloader is locked and have had to stick with stock Kernel)

Regards.

Gillsfankev.

Re: Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications

MI5 — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:25:04 GMT

From what I have read only O2 can unlock the bootloader. I guess there must be some contractual reason why Sony won't do it. Someone, I think "anticipated" or "forkingabout" may have mentioned a link to do it manually but I can't find it now 😞

Re: Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 12:56:21 GMT

Bootloader unlock depends on the firmware the handset is running.

http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com/

My unbranded Sony Xperia can have the boot loader unlocked as it has always run generic Sony firmware from the factory & not operated messed around with firmware.

Be warned if you unlock the boot loader you will void the 24 month handset warranty!

Re: Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 13:53:41 GMT

I believe MI5 is right - Sony used the word "illegal" incorrectly.

As I understand it (and I don't pretend to be a lawyer or ex-spurt)...

Basically, you don't own a sony phone - you own an O2 phone. Sony manufactured the phone for O2 under contract - beyond that, sony have no more connection with you than Mercedes do with the passengers of a bus they built for Stagecoach. We buy our O2 phones and pay less than we would for a "vanilla" sony phone because - apart from calls costs etc - O2 get paid for installing and "locking-in" certain apps (commonly referred to as "bloatware"). If someone removes those apps, they are potentially depriving O2 of income or leaving them open to legal problems with the owners of those apps - so O2's contract with sony will have specified that sony can not remove that bootloader and effectively turn an O2 phone into a sony phone. O2 can remove/change the bootloader once they are outside of whatever contracted period they have with the "built-in" apps' providers.

There are some legal issues relating to mobile devices - relating to FFC regs and the use of certain frequencies in different parts of the world - but I can't see them being involved here. (For example - wifi devices in the UK use 13 "channels" - in other countries, there are only 11 "channels" and broadcasting on the other two - which are actually just different frequencies - is potentially illegal as it involves unlicenced broadcasting on those frequencies)

(As a thought - I can see an opening for providers such as O2 to offer discounts, gifts or favourable terms for people who take their non-O2 phones in and have an O2 bootloader installed - kind of like renting out the side of your house for advertising space. Not everyone's cup of tea but then not everyone is bothered about "bloatware" and a few quid saved or a "free" pair of headphones is better than nothing :))

Re: Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:21:08 GMT

Bootloader unlock depends on the firmware the handset is running.

http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com/

My unbranded Sony Xperia can have the boot loader unlocked as it has always run generic Sony firmware from the factory & not operated messed around with firmware.

Be warned if you unlock the boot loader you will void the 24 month handset warranty!

-------------------------------------------------

Thanks for the link but unfortunately i'm not allowed to unlock the bootloader for the reasons it seems MI5 has stated.

Re: Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications

Anonymous — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:16:51 GMT

So where do I stand when my contract has expired, and Sony have ceased releasing updates for this phone, but third party ROM's such as CyanogenMod are avaliable with the latest Android ?

Re: Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications

Anonymous — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:53:56 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
So where do I stand when my contract has expired, and Sony have ceased releasing updates for this phone, but third party ROM's such as CyanogenMod are avaliable with the latest Android ?

Currently trying to find the answer myself although O2 and Sony seem very shtum on the subject.

Re: Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications

aldaweb — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:46:55 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
So where do I stand when my contract has expired, and Sony have ceased releasing updates for this phone, but third party ROM's such as CyanogenMod are avaliable with the latest Android ?

IANAL but as your contract has run it's term then the phone is yours to do with as you please, be it flash it with a different ROM or dissassemble it. Of course any action is entirely at your own risk.

Re: Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications

Anonymous — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:35:46 GMT

So, would o2 unlock it?

Re: Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications

MI5 — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:38:24 GMT

They'd have no valid reason not to......

Re: Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications

Anonymous — Fri, 17 May 2013 08:04:51 GMT

Also, could they unlock it?

Re: Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications

MI5 — Fri, 17 May 2013 08:09:47 GMT

Yes, all you need is the code to put in the phone. HTC are happy to supply the code upon request and the process is the same for unlocking on both the Sony & HTC, but I believe that network locked bootloaders can only have the codes retrieved by the network that locked them in the first place.

Re: Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications

Anonymous — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:52:21 GMT

Cheers, basically we have no chance then!!

Re: Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications

Anonymous — Sat, 18 May 2013 08:12:34 GMT

Perhaps if one of the O2 moderators is reading this they could enlighten us to the official stance. So please tell me, will you give me the code to unlock my bootloader once my contract has expired ? Or must I then sell this phone, or bin it once it is no longer being supported by yourselves and Sony ? (Although still being maintained and supported by the open source community).

Re: Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications

MI5 — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:40:45 GMT

The mods on this forum are externally sourced and have no idea what O2 is, let alone a Sony bootloader Your best chance is to drop Toby a pm and ask him to investigate....

Re: Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications

Anonymous — Tue, 28 May 2013 11:09:55 GMT

I'm also interested in unlocking my bootloader.

O2 will happily supply a network unlock code to use on other networks, so why wouldn't they supply a bootloader unlock code - it's crazy really.

Who is Toby? I'd like to message him too to find out if o2 plan to supply bootloader unlock codes - if for no other reason than to get bug fixes and security updates when Sony stop supplying official updates after the upcoming Jelly Bean update.

I'd love to go through the official support channels, but last time I tried that they insisted the network unlock code would unlock the bootloader and refused to pass me to somebody who had any idea what they were talking about.

Re: Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications

MI5 — Tue, 28 May 2013 11:13:28 GMT

http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/60444

Re: Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications

Anonymous — Tue, 28 May 2013 11:15:23 GMT

Great - thanks.

Re: Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications

Anonymous — Tue, 28 May 2013 11:36:20 GMT

I've sent Toby a PM a will let you know response.

Re: Bootloader Unlocking Xperia S. Legal Implications

Anonymous — Tue, 28 May 2013 11:38:45 GMT

Me too. Hopefully he might be able to get an official yes or no from o2.