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Apple rejects e-book reader app over Kama Sutra

updated 08:35 pm EDT, Thu May 21, 2009

Apple rejects ebook reader

Apple has rejected yet another iPhone app, Eucalyptus, over offensive content, according to Wired. The e-book reader does not contain the objectionable content, although it allows users to download titles from Project Gutenberg. Apple cites access to the Kama Sutra as the reason for rejection, despite the fact that the text must be manually added by the user.

Apple has received a variety of criticism for its App Store approval policies. Eucalyptus' developer Jamie Montgomerie argues that users could find the Kama Sutra just as easily by searching for the book from within Safari. The Google search results potentially contain material much more offensive than the e-book. Apple initially rejected Tweetie 1.3 over "offensive language" contained in the search results showing the public "Trends" rankings.

“I suspect that no-one at Apple knows how genuinely torturous the App Store approval process is for developers personally after a rejection,” Montgomerie said in an e-mail to Wired. “I think anyone that knows me would confirm that I’m a very level-headed person, but this is the only thing in my adult life I can recall losing sleep over.”

Apple also rejected an app, Me So Holy, that allows people to substitute a photo for the face of Jesus. NIN Access 1.0.3 was rejected for offensive lyrics in a podcast, despite the unedited track's availability from iTunes, although Apple later approved the title.

Many of the affected developers could have a second chance to submit offensive apps when iPhone OS 3.0 arrives. Apple will add parental controls, potentially opening the door for adult-oriented content.

 
Previous Comments

This tops it all!

05/21, 10:01pm (1 reply) reply

I have heard about strange reasons for app rejections, but this one tops it all. By far!

It is the equivalent of Apple saying, "we don't allow you to buy an iPod, because you could load sexually explicit content on it."

???

How strange can it get?

herbert68

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Feb 2000

+4

Please

05/21, 10:04pm reply

I can put p*** on my iPhone. Should we get rid of QuickTime?

dmsimmer

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Feb 2005

+3

Blocked?

05/21, 10:52pm reply

Why was Eucalyptus blocked over the Kama Sutra when Stanza has the exact same title available from the same source yet Stanza was approved?

Koda

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 2003

+5

when did Kama Sutra

05/21, 11:39pm (1 reply) reply

become p***? As far a I know Kama Sutra is the most comprehensive study of sexual interaction and it is more about studies than being p***.

Please read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kama_Sutra

macnixer

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2006

+4

Schoolmarms?

05/22, 12:33am reply

Who's censoring these apps? Prohibitionist schoolmarms from the 1920's?

designr

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 2002

+2

Strange thing to search

05/22, 02:14am reply

So why do you think they were searching for the Kama Sutra anyway? Seems a weird thing to search for. This is a good thing really for the developer. Same thing happened to Tweetie and it soared up the charts with all the publicity. The app looks really good though.

ClickSpace

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 1999

0

Free speech is dying

05/22, 10:03am reply

So much for "bicycles for your mind."
I can watch George Carlin uncensored on YouTube.
Let's just ban all media- that would be GREAT for Apple. Computers to help us think- about nothing.
This has to stop.
Apple- are you listening?

David Esrati

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jun 1999

0

I reject you Apple!

05/22, 10:18am reply

We as a community should reject Apple for being so offensive... but damn it... that app store is such a gateway drug.

applestock

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: May 2009

+2

dumb,,,

05/22, 11:05am reply

Give "think different" a whole different context..

Chris Hutcheson

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 2000

+2

STUPID

05/23, 12:33pm reply

That's just stupid. There are a bunch of apps listed at

http://appstoreicons.com

that are worse than this.

iwantaiphone

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: May 2009

0

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