Hi can anybody shed light on uk laws for repairing, modifying, and unlocking mobile/cellular phones please. Is it allowed or does a person need a licence?

Thanks,

gsm2

The only thing illegal in the UK regarding mobile phones is changing the 15 digit IMEI number. 2 years in the slammer even for a first offence. And no you don't need a licence :) :) :)

As Mr Bungle said it is only illegal to tamper with the phones identity, as long that phone is clearly identifiable using it the imei assigned to the phone at manufacture then you dont have a problem, you can repair, break, convert, replace, rework or whatever takes your fancy!

No license or anything is needed, except some repair skills! ;)

As Mr Bungle said it is only illegal to tamper with the phones identity, as long that phone is clearly identifiable using it the imei assigned to the phone at manufacture then you dont have a problem, you can repair, break, convert, replace, rework or whatever takes your fancy!

No license or anything is needed, except some repair skills! ;)

WRONG you get 2 years for repairig ALSO, read the bill, as it is clearly stated, IT IS ILLEGAL TO POSSESS ANY EQUIPMENT THAT ALLOW PROGRAMMING OF IMEI DATA!!!

So even just having that equipment is ILLEGAL!!

WRONG you get 2 years for repairig ALSO, read the bill, as it is clearly stated, IT IS ILLEGAL TO POSSESS ANY EQUIPMENT THAT ALLOW PROGRAMMING OF IMEI DATA!!!

So even just having that equipment is ILLEGAL!!

Yeah but if you read what i said, i didnt mention anything about possessing the sw to change imei, i was talking about hardware repair!

Your right about what you say, IT IS ILLEGAL to possess equipment to change imei, if you have sw that allows you to do this then clearly there is intent, but if you have a rework station does this class as intent ? I wouldnt have thought so

As i say i was talking about hardware repair which DOES NOT tamper with imei. In which case i was correct.

As were you with your argument about possessing sw or equipment to do so!


Regards

NaaN

"WRONG you get 2 years for repairig ALSO, read the bill, as it is clearly stated, IT IS ILLEGAL TO POSSESS ANY EQUIPMENT THAT ALLOW PROGRAMMING OF IMEI DATA!!!

So even just having that equipment is ILLEGAL!!"


Does this mean that possessing equipment such as a phone flasher/programmer ie, griffin, prodigy, ufs, tornado flasher can land a person 2 years in the slammer?

if the equipment such as tornado has ability to alter imei, then YES

But if you use products such as neelix or UK version of UST without imei repair in sw then, NO

if the equipment such as tornado has ability to alter imei, then YES

But if you use products such as neelix or UK version of UST without imei repair in sw then, NO
There is small trick with dctx.ini file, in tornado soft, so "imei" buttons will be hiden.

I don't know why UK is trying to be different than other countries....

Same reason we pay $1.5 per litre of fuel compared to other countries around world that pay as low as $0.35.............................!!!

In Portugal it´s also illegal to unlock and flash mobile phones :(

We do also pay 1,20 euros for eack L of Fuel

Our medium salary is 400 euros

So don´t blame yourself you are lucky

But still we are very nice ppl

There is small trick with dctx.ini file, in tornado soft, so "imei" buttons will be hiden.

....And whats that trick ?

The only thing illegal in the UK regarding mobile phones is changing the 15 digit IMEI number. 2 years in the slammer even for a first offence. And no you don't need a licence it does actually say

A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable-

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both, or
(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to a fine or to both.



"WRONG you get 2 years for repairig ALSO, read the bill, as it is clearly stated, IT IS ILLEGAL TO POSSESS ANY EQUIPMENT THAT ALLOW PROGRAMMING OF IMEI DATA!!!

So even just having that equipment is ILLEGAL!!"


Does this mean that possessing equipment such as a phone flasher/programmer ie, griffin, prodigy, ufs, tornado flasher can land a person 2 years in the slammer?It does actually say:-
2. Possession or supply of anything for re-programming purposes

(1) A person commits an offence if-

(a) he has in his custody or under his control anything which may be used for the purpose of changing or interfering with the operation of a unique device identifier, and
(b) he intends to use the thing unlawfully for that purpose or to allow it to be used unlawfully for that purpose.

notice the AND in between so proof of intent is needed, mind you if you have dedicated imei changer that does nothing else then youd have no other reason for possesing it.

it does actually say

A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable-

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both, or
(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to a fine or to both.



It does actually say:-
2. Possession or supply of anything for re-programming purposes

(1) A person commits an offence if-

(a) he has in his custody or under his control anything which may be used for the purpose of changing or interfering with the operation of a unique device identifier, and
(b) he intends to use the thing unlawfully for that purpose or to allow it to be used unlawfully for that purpose.

notice the AND in between so proof of intent is needed, mind you if you have dedicated imei changer that does nothing else then youd have no other reason for possesing it.
Sorry forgot to mention.
We are only talking about IMEI changing here not software reprogramming.
all other activity with repair or modifying phones including unlocking is legal in UK

The reason Equipment and software in sold in uk has imei changing and repair removed is because of this part of the act:-

(3) A person commits an offence if-

(a) he offers to supply anything which may be used for the purpose of changing or interfering with the operation of a unique device identifier, and
(b) he knows or believes that the person to whom the thing is offered intends if it is supplied to him to use it unlawfully for that purpose or to allow it to be used unlawfully for that purpose.

This also has same punishment as above and that is why you wont get any response or goods from a uk supplier if you mention IMEI facilities.
SO DONT ASK YOUR SUPPLYER TO BREAK THE LAW. Cos he/she wont but will probably just hang up on you (if on phone) :D

So it is ok to have the equipment plus the software to unlock mobile phones such as griffin, twister, etc. But it is not ok to use this equipment to change the imei number of the phones?

gsm2

So it is ok to have the equipment plus the software to unlock mobile phones such as griffin, twister, etc. But it is not ok to use this equipment to change the imei number of the phones?

gsm2Well my interpretation of the uk law has the emphasis on change. It IS illegal to CHANGE or INTERFERE with the operation of a unique device identifier. So I would imagine repairing original number isnt changing or interfering with its operation.
Remember that if you break this law you get 6 months for first offence But 5 YEARS for subsequence offence which is a long time in prison. And Education would not stand as a defence in court so be warned.

Is it crazy. Jail only for owning device that can chage IMEI... If someone have a gun is a murder?
And what about flashing? I thing is it ilegall too, because for flashing you need flash file, and this flash is property of phone producer...or?

silly laws......how can griffin etc be legal then when it does imei rebuilding ?
ARS has a valid point,so if u sell or own a gun ,can u be responsible for your customers actions?How on earth do u fix a faulty UEM with ??????????? imei?
For the benefit of all unlockers ,i think we should start a section where different laws are stated for different countries so we can all stay ahead of our otherwise CORRUPT governments !!

Is it crazy. Jail only for owning device that can chage IMEI... If someone have a gun is a murder?
And what about flashing? I thing is it ilegall too, because for flashing you need flash file, and this flash is property of phone producer...or?You obviously not reading the bill. I says owning with the intention of changing the IMEI. As far as flashing is concerned it would come under copyright law the same as copying music from your mates collection is also illegal (technically)

Jihadisilly laws......how can griffin etc be legal then when it does imei rebuilding ?
ARS has a valid point,so if u sell or own a gun ,can u be responsible for your customers actions?How on earth do u fix a faulty UEM with ??????????? imei?
For the benefit of all unlockers ,i think we should start a section where different laws are stated for different countries so we can all stay ahead of our otherwise CORRUPT governments !!If you read the bill it says CHANGE, and rebuilding by nature of the word is putting back to original ie repairing. Your analogy using of guns I'm affraid doesnt suit as in any country the selling of a gun to a member of the public knowing it will be used for an illegal purpose makes you an accessory to that crime. The IMEI law does state that if you knowingly sell to someone who intends to CHANGE the imei then you as the supplier have broken the law :)

i am from SA. i import mobiles from hk. recently my shipment was stopped by adams and adams and they hate refurbished units,as nokia loses out on potential new phone sales and will do anything in their power to stop us. they look for copyright infringements and use technicalities to destroy the unit. main problem is that they are challenging that the software has been altered. how can they prove this especially with dct3. as when i check the s/w on Ufsx/Jaff both IMEI (original and changed) are the same. what else can they use to say that the software has been altered as ultimately we are taking a used phone and cosmetically making it look like new and sell it.
PLEASE GUYS HELP ON THIS SUBJECT IS IMMINENT AS THEY ARE THREATENING IMPORTERS ALL THE TIME. Stand the risk of losing my shipment on this basis. please explain and contact me on althaf_almo@hotmail.com (this is my msn as well)
thanks

Please note that even if IME change is not expressly or directly illegal. Why do people whant to change IME yes because the phone has been blocked due to it being stolen and if you are found handlig stolen goods in most countries you can get sent to the poky where you endup slopping out your poo poo and will have to put up with the consant smell of urin for the next few years. So make sure you knew where your mobiles come from. I the arcaic law in the UK is just following the US in putting people away for small offences they are just out to repress. The UK goverment with bliar at the helm with bush have committed crimes of war killing thousands of innocent peopl far worse than changing IME numbers, but they walk free. Talk about double standards.

they say that the firmware has changed, not sure if they are picking on imei. how can they identify this?as the s/w on the unit is ORIGINAL