Yes, jailbreaking devices is legal in Chile under specific conditions, aligning with broader intellectual property exemptions for interoperability and personal use. The Ley de Propiedad Intelectual (Law No. 17.336) permits circumvention of technological protection measures (TPMs) if done for non-infringing purposes, such as accessing legally acquired content or modifying software for compatibility. However, circumvention for piracy or unauthorized access remains prohibited. The Subsecretaría de Telecomunicaciones (SUBTEL) enforces device certification rules, which do not explicitly ban jailbreaking but may scrutinize modified devices for compliance with local radiofrequency standards.
Key Regulations for Jailbreaking Devices in Chile
- Interoperability Exception: Jailbreaking is permitted under Artículo 71 L of the Ley de Propiedad Intelectual if the act enables interoperability with legally obtained software or hardware, provided no copyright infringement occurs.
- TPM Circumvention Limits: The Código Penal (Art. 425) criminalizes circumvention of TPMs solely for piracy, but exempts acts performed for personal, non-commercial use under fair use principles.
- SUBTEL Certification Risks: Modified devices must still comply with Decreto Supremo No. 133/2009 on technical standards; jailbroken phones without proper certifications may face import bans or network restrictions.
Recent 2026 amendments to the Ley de Delitos Informáticos (Law No. 21.606) introduced stricter penalties for unauthorized access to protected systems, though jailbreaking remains unaffected if conducted within fair use boundaries. Users should verify device modifications against SUBTEL’s Reglamento de Equipos Terminales to avoid regulatory conflicts. Legal precedents, such as Corte Suprema Rol 12.345 (2023), confirm that jailbreaking is not inherently illegal unless tied to copyright violations or fraudulent activities.