I've just had a thread locked over at ubuntuforums.org for asking a question about iPhone jailbreaking. I found this odd since jailbreaking is a legal and fairly uncontroversial activity, but I'm guessing it's because the mods there are of the opinion that it violates Apple's EULA and is therefore verboten on their forum (a questionable opinion IMO, but hey, it's their website).

So I wanted to check before I get in trouble for asking questions here: is it okay to ask here about Linux software that could help me control an Apple device that I own? Or should I try to find a less reliable place to ask those questions?

What did YOU conclude from reading the Apple EULA?

Er, my interpretation of the Apple EULA, coupled with the US Copyright Office's 2010 ruling, is that jailbreaking may void the warranty but does not violate the EULA.

It's nice for me that I think that, but my opinion doesn't matter much to forum admins (let alone copyright judges), which is why I asked.

Frankly, it's becoming clear to me that the state of free software on Apple devices is so appalling that I may be better off just throwing the thing away.

Your interpretation is in line with the practical observation that "breaking into" the device is something that no-one will ever know that you did. I think that if you were to start SELLING modified i-Phones, you might have a problem.

So... does that mean that I can ask questions on LQ about how to jailbreak an iPhone?...

Given that the mods haven't paid much attention to this thread, I guess I'll go ahead and assume that such questions don't violate the policy of this forum, and will continue to assume that unless and until one of them locks a thread?

As the legality of jailbreaking has been confirmed, I certainly don't see an issue with it being discussed here at LQ.

--jeremy

Sounds very sensible. Thanks!