Over the recent several years, the proliferlation of smart devices including smartphones has quickly increased and in relation to this the possibility of infringement of copyright did so at the same time.
Smart device manufacturers have taken a tec...
Over the recent several years, the proliferlation of smart devices including smartphones has quickly increased and in relation to this the possibility of infringement of copyright did so at the same time.
Smart device manufacturers have taken a technological access control measures on smart operating system or firmware of smart devices to achieve aim of their polocies including copyright protection. On the other hand, a considerable number of smart devices users have used their devices after circumventing technological protection measures to enjoy the benefit of the Services as provided by manufacturers.
This act of circumventing technological measures taken on smart operating system or firmware is called "jailbreaking" or "rooting", generally using customized firmware. Smart devices users enjoy pirated applications, improving performance, activating new functions, pursuing personality, and so on after jailbreaking or rooting theirs. In the process of jailbreaking or rooting, smart device user circumvents access control measures, copying firmware and customized firmware on his computer hard drive and computer RAM.
"Notification of Exemption to Prohibition on Circumvention of Technological Protection Measures" in Korea and the rule of "Exemption to Prohibition on Circumvention of Copyright Protection Systems for Access Control Technologies" in USA provides exemptions to prohibition on circumventing access control technologies. This notification of Korea, unlike the rule of US, provides broadly the scope of smart devices, seeming to be interpreted into cover smart mobile devices including smartphones, tablets, and the like(except only for games). however, the notification sets limits to software interoperabilty between lawfully obtained software applications and computer programs on the smart devices and interoperability with alternative networks. Thus, the notification cannot cover such cases that smart devices user jailbreaks or roots his devices with customized firmware to improve performance, activate new functions, seek personality, etc.
Copyright law in Korea instituted to protect access control measures and to provide newly comprehensive fair use in 2011. US courts have seemed to avoid applying fair use doctrine to cases related to access control measures. and In the process of rulemaking exemptions to prohibition on circumventing access control technologies, the US Congress librarian considers the four factors for fair use and additional factors. This can be considered understanding relationship between circumvention of technological protection measures and fair use in Korea. but Fair use was already considered in the notification and the rulemaking. and So it seems to be difficult to apply once more to cases besides exemptions on the notification and the rule.
It seems to satisfy the factors for fair use to jailbreak or root with customized firmware to improve performance, activate new functions, and pursue personality. The notification, however, doesn't cover them and so has limits to applying fair use doctrine to these cases.
Therefore, it must be discussed in depth that smart devices user jailbreaks or roots his devices with customized firmware to improve performance, activate new functions, seek personality. By when the notification is revised to be clearer, it is desirable that comprehensive fair use should be positively applied to jailbreaking or rooting smart devices to do above.
※ Key words : smart devices, smartphone, firmware, customized firmware, jailbreaking, rooting, copy, access control, technological protection measures, fair use, DMCA.