US Copyright Office Does not OK iPad Jailbreaking, iPad Mini Pre-orders Live

It goes without saying that not all Apple fans are impressed with the iPad mini. But those of you who are will get your chance to pre-order the device on Apple.com. The device has a 7.9 inch display with an A5 processor inside. Dual-band WiFi and quality cameras are also included. These tablets are available in White & Silver and Black & Slate.

The iPad mini is available in three sizes and two classes. The WiFi models cost you as high as $529. In order to get the cellular version, you need to pay up $130 more per model. Let’s not forget that WiFi + Cellular models will start shipping in Mid November and require you to deal with a carrier such as Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint. The WiFi models are delivered on November 2nd, depending on when you order and when these sell out.

Speaking of iPads, it is interesting to note that the US Copyright Office has ruled jailbreaking these tablets is not OK. The Copyright Office reviews the DMCA every three years to make sure the laws are keeping up with the changes in technology. This year, the entity has ruled that jailbreaking iPhones is fine but that does not apply to iPads. Unlocking phones purchased after January 2013 is not accepted either. The explanation given for this is quite sad to say the least:

The Register determined that the statutory factors weighed in favor of a renewed exemption for smartphones, as nothing in the record suggested that the market for mobile phones had been negatively impacted by the designation of such a class and, in fact, such a class might make smartphones more attractive to consumers. … the record did not demonstrate any significant relationship between jailbreaking and piracy…. The Register found significant merit to the opposition’s concerns that this aspect of the proposed class was broad and ill-defined, as a wide range of devices might be considered “tablets,” notwithstanding the significant distinctions among them in terms of the way they operate, their intended purposes, and the nature of the applications they can accommodate.

Copyright holders seem to have convinced the Librarian of Congress that tablets are not well-defined as a product category as many devices could be considered a tablet. This is not ideal but the ruling on smartphones gives us hope that this madness won’t go on forever.