Flash (Language change, upgrade etc) is legal or not

[laval]

A few days ago some of you give their opinion/discuss whether unlocking and imei change is legal or not.

Legal matters-is unlock legal in your country?

Now I want to know whether flashing a phone (language change, upgrading and downgrading versions) is legal or not.

[gsmrazvan]

also not legal
software is copyright of nokia, siemens etc.

[farrell]

The software inside a phone (despite the phone being your property), is intellectual property of the manufacturer of the phone, you merely have a licence to use it. It's the same with any operating system (Window$, etc), the software is not your property, you must not modify it. This is a strict interpretation. In reality, there is very little legal backing for a phone manufacturer to sue you for anything more than owning confidential material.

Of course, this varies from country to country substantially!

[laval]

Therefore repairing a nokia phone with 'contact service' is illegal.
But what happen if someone use oiginal Nokia equipment and original flash file, is it still illegal?
If yes does Nokia sell licenses/rights to use his software?

[farrell]

You have to be an authorised nokia service centre/point to use nokia original equipment and software, no-one else should have it. If it is a software contact service, you are tampering with nokia's software. The day that you port nokia software to motorola and flash 10000 v60 with 8310 software, and sell them, i'm sure you could have some serious legal trouble. The intellectual property inside phones is legally a rather obscure area still...

[b0ba]

This is only copyright question...
If I am flashing Nokia with Dejan flasher or I'm flashing siemens phones with original flashes then no copyright law can't be applyed to my work.... I'm using original flashes, I'm not disassembleing firmware, I'm not modifying firmware in any way...
Software that I use:
Dejan case: This software/hardware and it's copyright is the property of Dejan Kalevic. Flashes are copyrighted to Nokia Crp.
The bad side is flashes on HDD(in case of checking with goverment authority).
Siemens case: It is copyrighted by siemens and can be downloaded from simens site.

Case with unlocker progs: They are copyrighted by thier respective creators. They had developed it! Manufacturers of the phones are not giving unlockers under any licenses. So any software developed to use with any device (Iron, Mouse, Toilet Paper) is copyrighted to it's respective creator.

Anyway.... Unlocking/Flashing is legal... IMEI changing NOT!

WBR
b0ba

[CRU1]

hi i am FROM SOUTH AFRICA. I have imported some refurbs 3310/5210 etc from hk. the goods in question are 2nd hand units which have been refurbished.adams and adams copyright attorneys for nokia are investigating my goods.as all the parts i have changed if it is a generic, i have replaced with none branded items (cover,imei sticker,chasis etc),therefore not contravining any copyright infringements. after testing all avenues they say that the software is tampered with? how can they prove this claim? as i check with my jaff/ufsx and read info both imei are the same and the s/w on the unit is normal firmware. how can they prove that s/w if tampered with please help, as they are going to take my goods away and destroy it-->counterfeit or copyright infringement. my email is althaf_almo@hotmail.com (msn)

[farrell]

interesting, contact me on icq 1787271 or msn [at] unlockin.com