Law took effect Jan. 26

The law’s been around for 15 years. Last year, the Library of Congress ruled unlocking a phone without the carriers permission violates copyright law.The ruling took effect Saturday.—FOX News Charlotte

Unlocked cell phones offer consumers more options, especially when it comes to mobile devices and service providers, but a new federal law criminalizes the fairly-common cell phone trick.

In October, The Library of Congress reached a ruling that made unlocking cell phones illegal. The new law kicked in on Jan. 26.

According to CNN, the new law applies only to phones purchased after January 26.

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