Who actually owns customer’s phone?

Dear Editor,

I have a rather perplexing issue going on right now between AT&T Wireless, Nokia and myself. I have requested from AT&T Wireless the code to unlock my Nokia phone for use on another network. I was told to contact Nokia; AT&T Wireless claims to not have these codes. Nokia says the phones are locked at the request of AT&T Wireless, and I need to contact them for the codes. The real question here is: Who actually owns the phone? I believe I do since I have paid for it, do I not? If this is the case, do the carriers have the right to deny us the use of our own property? Interesting legal question, don’t you think?

Larry Welch