[eli]

This isn't really about cell phones, it's about copyright and how copyright laws apply to physical devices that you own. The fact that the devices in question happen to use public airwaves is incidental. IMHO, I should be able to hack my WiFi-only iPad and my XBox without risking criminal prosecution.

[notatoad]

Cell phone locking has absolutely nothing to do with copyright. It is absurd that copyright law applies to unlocking/locking a cell phone.

[larvaetron]

It doesn't have anything to do with copyright, nor is it illegal. Someone started a rumour and people keep repeating it ad nauseam.