iphoneunlockuk breaking GPL?

[georgeoommen]

Does anyone know if the iJailbreak released by Arix is under GPL?? if so i'm pretty certain these guys at iphoneunlockuk.com are breaking it as they are using the exact same software and they are charging for it. have a look at the screenshot of the software below. Its exactly the same as iJailbreak with only the window title and the welcome message changed.

http://iphoneunlockuk.com/whatphones.php

Should we be reporting this to the standards and trading commission?? Surely they shouldn't be allowed to profit from the hard work of Arix and co.

[cazlar]

40 pounds to unlock, what a ripoff. And yes, the code is GPL2. Arix is on MR, might be worth informing him if he doesn't know. BTW, AFAIK there's nothing wrong with taking GPL source and charging for it (except morally perhaps), but they need to follow all the other rules given in the licence.

[jodysanders]

Hi there

I am the Managing Director of Phone Unlock Ltd which runs iPhoneUnlockUK. We are not actually selling the software, moreover we are selling a SERVICE which involves email and telephone support and obviously software which has been altered inhouse. The software we use is open source, we have taken the source code and we made modifications so that it used the latest version of ziphone and hence unlocked 3.9 bootloaders.

iJailbreak is purely an interface to ziphone - there is nothing else in there. The button merely calls an applescript action which runs a shellscript.

If this is breaking the terms of the license, then I apologise, do you think we ought be giving more credit to the original developer somewhere?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Jody Sanders

[georgeoommen]

Originally Posted by jodysanders

Hi there

I am the Managing Director of Phone Unlock Ltd which runs iPhoneUnlockUK. We are not actually selling the software, moreover we are selling a SERVICE which involves email and telephone support and obviously software which has been altered inhouse. The software we use is open source, we have taken the source code and we made modifications so that it used the latest version of ziphone and hence unlocked 3.9 bootloaders.

iJailbreak is purely an interface to ziphone - there is nothing else in there. The button merely calls an applescript action which runs a shellscript.

If this is breaking the terms of the license, then I apologise, do you think we ought be giving more credit to the original developer somewhere?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Jody Sanders

I am not the developer, but if it were me I would have like it if firstly you give credit to the people who developed both iJailbreak as well as ziphone on your website, and also let people konw that what you are offering is merely the service and taht the software is infact available to anyone. In effect making the do-it-yourself version of your solution free and charging only for the bit where people actually come to you in person or have their iphones sent to you by post for unlocking.

Arix, GeoHot, or Zibri, if you guys are around on this forum then please comment.. you guys the ones that deserve all the credit.

[jodysanders]

But the do it yourself version requires support - how am I supposed to pay my staff to help people through it on the phone and via email if the person does not pay? I don't work for free and neither do my staff.

If they want free software they can go elsewhere - its much like Linux. There's a community source which is free or you can purchase it from Red Hat and get support from them.

These phones are expensive devices, like one of my customers said to me today - not everyone who has an iPhone is a PC whizz kid who can spend hours trawling forums, doing procedures which may potentially damage their phones. They want to be able to call someone up and get help and friendly advice.

If you want to really have a go at someone, try one of the other sites who charge for other software (they actuall;y just provide you with a link!) and don't even have a phone number you can call for support and aren't even a proper company.

We keep in regular communication with all our customers regarding everything to do with the iPhone. My customers are real people with real lives who don't have the inclination to visit forums all day worrying about a device which is an essential tool to many.

If you think £39.99 is too much, then its simple - don't use us! But don't bash us for trying to provide a much needed service.

[georgeoommen]

Originally Posted by jodysanders

But the do it yourself version requires support - how am I supposed to pay my staff to help people through it on the phone and via email if the person does not pay? I don't work for free and neither do my staff.

If they want free software they can go elsewhere - its much like Linux. There's a community source which is free or you can purchase it from Red Hat and get support from them.

These phones are expensive devices, like one of my customers said to me today - not everyone who has an iPhone is a PC whizz kid who can spend hours trawling forums, doing procedures which may potentially damage their phones. They want to be able to call someone up and get help and friendly advice.

If you want to really have a go at someone, try one of the other sites who charge for other software (they actuall;y just provide you with a link!) and don't even have a phone number you can call for support and aren't even a proper company.

We keep in regular communication with all our customers regarding everything to do with the iPhone. My customers are real people with real lives who don't have the inclination to visit forums all day worrying about a device which is an essential tool to many.

If you think £39.99 is too much, then its simple - don't use us! But don't bash us for trying to provide a much needed service.

dude.. i'm not bashing anyone.. if you're happy and the creators of this software are happy then i'm happy and we're all happy bunnies..

I have no connection with the developers, what I expressed above is purely my personal feeling, which I think i'm entitled to just as you are to your opinion. I fully respect your opinion and if you think what you are doing is justified, then thats great..

To tell you the truth, before this solution came about, I was very close to coming to your store in London to get my phone unlocked. I felt that your service was worth the money given the complexity involved previously.

[Nipz]

i used this site for unlocking my phone and 39.99 is cheap to me, as i know if it goes wrong they can help me get back on track!

At the end of the day its 39.99 on top of nearly 300... i believe its worth it!

Also when ive ran up the staff are helpful and know what their on about!

[rsxmachine]

If people are stupid enough to buy this, then they deserve to pay.

[Nipz]

To be honest money isnt a problem and also im paying for the support if anything goes wrong!!!!

[hexonxonx]

Just use the free version of Ziphone. No need to pay these people for something that was intended to be free.

[jav6454]

Originally Posted by jodysanders

But the do it yourself version requires support - how am I supposed to pay my staff to help people through it on the phone and via email if the person does not pay? I don't work for free and neither do my staff.

If they want free software they can go elsewhere - its much like Linux. There's a community source which is free or you can purchase it from Red Hat and get support from them.

These phones are expensive devices, like one of my customers said to me today - not everyone who has an iPhone is a PC whizz kid who can spend hours trawling forums, doing procedures which may potentially damage their phones. They want to be able to call someone up and get help and friendly advice.

If you want to really have a go at someone, try one of the other sites who charge for other software (they actuall;y just provide you with a link!) and don't even have a phone number you can call for support and aren't even a proper company.

We keep in regular communication with all our customers regarding everything to do with the iPhone. My customers are real people with real lives who don't have the inclination to visit forums all day worrying about a device which is an essential tool to many.

If you think £39.99 is too much, then its simple - don't use us! But don't bash us for trying to provide a much needed service.

I read all your posts at hackint0sh.org. Let me tell you something, you are a thief! Stealing Pwnage is stealing from the community. You defend yourself saying you charge service when in fact you charge the whole thing [service and program]!!

You also say that Pwnage is covered under GPL, well breaking news, some parts of Pwnage are covered, not all. That not all part means you can not modify it as you are doing it right now. Also, what the hell selling support information when it is freely available right now right here or over in hackint0sh?

You are a scammer/thief that takes advantage of others work and effort.

Like many people have told you already, please stop it abandon whatever you do as you FAIL.

[patrickk]

As a complete novice to the iphone world, and all the techno jargon surrounding hacks, jailbreaks etc or what ever you want to call. I read with great interest and much disgust and anger, the claims made by Mr Jody Sanders MD of iphoneunlockuk. That he sells a service! and has staff costs to meet etc, What a load of tosh!! Like any buisness success relies heavily on two main areas, the quality of the product and were applicable the quality of support or after sales service. Mr Sanders gives the impression via his website of being BIG on BOTH!! not true, as a former customer and ex member of his site. I waited as instructed by him before installing the v2.0 upgrade and followed his instructions to the letter, subsequently locking the iphone rendering it useless,(except for emergency calls) I thought not a problem iphoneunlockuk will come to the rescue,Think again!! the online support has not been on-line for the last three weeks, and I have logged in every day. Countless emails went unanswered, and the ones I did recieve a reply to were 'whats the problem and how can I help' this was after explaining in much detail what the problem was! so obviously to busy to read the emails in the first place. One email from Mr Sanders did say 'I have had enough of this problem and I'm going home' ENOUGH, he had'nt had'nt done anything yet? except screw up my phone, he did admit to 'feeling quite bad though' gee thanx, small recompence for ruining my iphone. And his claim of working 18 hr days, yeh busy counting all your/our hard earned no doubt. In short iphoneunlock are not what they claim to be, take it from someone who learned the hard and expensive way. It's amazing what you learn about things and people, when you run into problems, and the interesting information you uncover. Like iphoneunlockuk home page emblazoned with endorsements from the Guardian, Which and ITV, dont know about Which or ITV (at the moment) but read an interesting artice by Bobbie Johnson Guardian reporter and how iphoneunlockuk had never been endorsed by the Guardian. Shortly after this Mr Sanders did make some adjustments but just enough to satisfy the Guardian and maintain appearances for the likes of you and me. So Mr Sanders stop impliing you are something WHICH clearly you are NOT. Your on-line sales support, based on what I have learned from you and about you,consists of you yourself and perhaps one other. So maybe your claim to working 18hr days is correct after all because the support staff does'nt exist!! no where near the level and standards you imply at least. just be warned folks and think carefully before sending this guy your money. Incidentally Mr Sanders after almost 4 weeks of scouring the net and reading and learning all I could on the iphone I have managed to fully restore my iphone to it's former glory complete with V2.0 and all it cost me was time, trust me folks all you need is out there, just look and learn. believe me if I can you can, please consider this option cafefully before deciding to line the pockets of those who are only interested in your CASH. Be warned.

[ViViDboarder]

Originally Posted by patrickk

One email from Mr Sanders did say 'I have had enough of this problem and I'm going home' ENOUGH, he had'nt had'nt done anything yet? except screw up my phone, he did admit to 'feeling quite bad though' gee thanx, small recompence for ruining my iphone.

Pics or it didn't happen.