‘Unlocking’ Cellphones Now a Crime

LUFKIN — A new provision of the law banning illegal music downloads and pirated DVD’s now makes it a crime to unlock a cell phone. Unlocking is a process that gives consumers the freedom to use a device sold by one carrier on another provider’s network. So does the customer need to worry? Lufkin cell phone store owner Matt Davis says, “I think that you won’t see so much persecution of…individuals, but more of the people who are actually providing the services.” The copyright office of the Library of Congress has a website where people can report violators. Convictions can lead to five-year prison sentences and half a million dollars in fines.