Until this week, hacking an iPhone was like jaywalking for techies: easy, common and illegal.

But the Library of Congress has legalized this hacking -- known as "jailbreaking" -- and given amnesty to the millions of users who have already done it.

Jailbreaking allows savvy iPhone users to hack into their devices and run applications that weren't approved by the official Apple app store.

It's a popular process that's been an open secret since the smart phone premiered. Apple, known for its tight control on all products, has responded by refusing to honor warranties for jailbroken devices.

The Library of Congress decision has been interpreted as a victory for the amateur who wants some say -- and maybe some pay -- for altering a device's capabilities and vulnerabilities. Companies already shell out cash to "bug hunters" who alert them to security gaps.

It's also a victory for open-source software, which emphasizes the community in improving software rather than one-size-fits-all corporate management [read more at post-gazette.com]