Apple has rejected an ebook reader app from the iPhone App Store over what seems to verge on censorship. Eucalyptus has been repeatedly rejected from the store because it can access ‘objectionable’ content.
Apple has faced criticism of its App Store policy in the past, with developers claiming they have little guidance as to what is acceeptable and decisions seemingly being made on an entirely arbitrary basis.
The decision to reject Eucalyptus is apparently due to the fact that users could use the app to access content that would contravene Apple’s policies on acceptable material. Accordinig to developer James Montgomerie, Apple claim that the app can display material that is “obscene, pornographic, offensive, or defamatory.” Eucalyptus is an ebook viewer that downloads content from the public domain Project Gutenberg e-library that contains thousands of volumes covering everything from literary classics, childrens books and erotica.
Putting aside the issue of whether Apple should be censoring content in this way, the ‘material’ in question was the Kama Sutra – hardly the most hardcore of reading material and, damningly, available via several other iPhone apps such as Stanza and Bookshelf. Montgomerie has said he will ‘rent out his soul’ and make a version of Eucalyptus that will censor the Kama Sutra, but it remains to be seen if this will satisfy Apple. There are, after all, lots more books with bad words in them.
TBC | £tbc | Eucalyptus (via Technologizer)
It wouldn’t be anything to do with Kindle support on the iPhone now would it? As annoying as that would be, I’d like to hope that’s the reason rather than people in Cupertino blushing at books. I though we got over that 90 years ago with DH Lawrence.
Its possible, although weird that they would only pick on one (of many) rival ebook apps. More likely the App Store process endows individual staff with too much power and no peer review.
It is pretty ridiculous. I think Apple should ban it’s own Safari app then, because that could be used access porn on the interwebs!!
Crazy crazy apple people!