I spent about an hour reading the blog about how the teenage hacker cracked iPhone to run on T-Mobile. It's not something I will do, but it brings up a question.

What about Apple's "deal" with AT&T? Does Apple have the right to invent proprietary hardware that forces the consumer to use one cellphone carrier? Is it a violation of those rights to hack the device so it exploits competition?

I think, Gnarlodious, that all such questions concerning 'intellectual property' are not really economic, but really about BASIC TECHNOLOGY, and I humbly think that it boils down, to such things as the 'hoe' and then the question of 'who's potatoe?', after, say an hour of digging, with this ancient tool. And I think it is quite a silly proposition, to have! I will conclude this add to your strain, by broadening my question, and then suggesting a political solution-minus all the Republicans!
The chip used by cell phone companies is less than a CPU, and is limited and focused upon only input/output things. Like a computer chip, however, individual cirucuits may vary within, in the context of levels of accessiblilty affecting controlling or deciding data, to the ends of narrow, very special input query streams.
As you reported, someone has independently documented sufficiently these query codes. And the question has become, because down the road, heads will roll one way or another, who will pay: Apple or the Telephone companies; this yet another of the constant, and deceptive undercurrents of legal, little, trial give-and-takes.
In this silly 'war of exploitation', it will be the 'paper-trail' left by this hacker, which will decide which victim is targeted next, by which company-in the interests of exploiting customers 'differences'. Between you and me, and the fly on the wall, I don't care what is a cell phone-only I can talk upon it- and I don't care about a telephone company-only that I use a service and pay like everybody else is!! Hmmph!!
So I am expected to care (???) whether this hacker's legal loyalties lie in one perverted direction, or another??? NOT, on GEORGE BUSH'S PSYCHOTIC LIFE.
What a great weekend diversion, and now to minus the Republicans, and conclude. We Americans are the GREAT PAPER TRAIL PEOPLE. Why else would literally dozens of men sign off upon one Constitution? Only now, Republicans seem to say, our actions SHOULD NOT BE REPRODUCEABLE in a court of law; that is, if it can be reproduced and discussed in court, well the wrong could be duplicated, and then again, and then again! This to me is just gross irresponsibility! Since the Revolution, we tell our spouses and children, and friends at the end of each day, what's been going on. And how did that strike you, dear? Etc. Must our corporations invite misdeeds of hackers and even Republicans, and then have us conclude it never happened to speak of?? Without accountability, we're all going to hell in a handbasket! With them gone, we all have to discuss what competiton is or amounts to in each State, nicely!! Thanks!!!

Just to encode my updated feelings a bit...I overheard an executive-in-a-business-suit-with-a-cell-phone on the train today discussing ways to send an Apple product into the history books.

My opinion is: when a goods-maker of our economy strategizes to defeat another good into history, as opposed to plain productivness, his or her ill will, will be defeated by hackers or somebody, because the oppressors always lose.