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http://www.macnn.com/articles/10/12/06/accuses.apple.of.fostering.nanny.state/

Danish tabloid takes Jobs, Apple to task for prudish rules

updated 03:20 pm EST, Mon December 6, 2010

Accuses Apple of fostering 'nanny state'

A Danish tabloid, Ekstra Bladet, has taken to pillorying Apple and its CEO over the rejection of an iOS app, Fortune writes. The Danish newspaper has a regular feature called "Side 9," depicting a topless or fully naked woman. App Store rules forbid material that can be interpreted as pornographic, which recently resulted in the Ekstra Bladet app being blocked from sale so long as the Side 9 section is included.

The paper has refused to remove Side 9 from the software, and is currently engaged in a campaign criticizing Apple policies. A Monday cartoon depicts Steve Jobs painting over one of the Side 9 girls, and an editorial calls the company "narrow-minded," having deemed the nude women too offensive despite their being allowed in Denmark. Apple is accused of representing a "nanny state" that controls the smallest details of a person's life.

"Danish legislation becomes inoperative by a private American company. No matter what it is about, no one should tolerate it. We will certainly not," a translated portion of the editorial reads.

Apple recently barred another Danish publication from the App Store, Android Magasinet. That case may be more controversial, as the magazine simply talks about the Android platform, Apple's main competition in the mobile realm. There are no App Store rules expressly forbidding publications about Apple rivals.

by MacNN Staff

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Comments

wrenchy
Forum Regular

Joined: Nov 2009

+5

12/06, 03:36pm | report spam | close Reply |
Oh. She's hot.

Why would Steve do a thing like that?

wrenchy
Forum Regular

Joined: Nov 2009

-5

12/06, 03:38pm | report spam | close Reply |
It's funny how

the more you try to suppress something, the more publicity you get.

vasic
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: May 2005

-1

12/06, 03:47pm | report spam | close Reply |
Publicity

Apple doesn't really care much for this kind of publicity. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised that when they are on the fence about blocking an app, that they would rather choose to block it, in order to gain this type of publicity. Vast majority of Apple's users prefer the "nanny state" policing of the app store (apparently).

The irony is, the suppressed party is also getting publicity out of this. Nobody has ever heard of this magazine (outside of Denmark, that is), and now we're debating it on a (fairly) high-profile Mac fansite.

WiseWeasel
Junior Member

Joined: Apr 1999

+12

12/06, 03:58pm | report spam | close Reply |
Ridiculous

Yet another demonstration of how ridiculous it is to apply American sensibilities to other countries and cultures. Across much of the world, violent content is controversial and nudity not at all, yet the clearly American bias favoring the opposite prevails on the App Store. This is morally indefensible.

lkrupp
Junior Member

Joined: May 2001

+4

12/06, 04:03pm | report spam | (1 reply) close Reply |
Right...

It should be pointed out that both MacNN and iPodNN apparently don't have the fortitude, or gonads, to publish the image of the nude woman on this website, do they. Yet they are happy to post an article critical of Apple for doing the same thing. What's up MacNN? You self censor your own web site but when Apple does it too it's suddenly news worthy. Or does it mean MacNN just isn't ever newsworthy.

FireWire
Mac Elite

Joined: Oct 1999

-6

12/06, 04:07pm | report spam | close Reply |
good one!

It's about time people make fun of this stupid rule!

Flying Meat
Junior Member

Joined: Jan 2007

-6

12/06, 04:19pm | report spam | close Reply |
Takes Apple to task

as well they should. I would point out though, that only some countries, and some portion of those countries are okay with nudity, and even p*** to a lesser extent. Unfortunately, it is not possible to please all the people all the time.

Preventing that type of material, as clean and wholesome as we might believe it to be, actually doesn't detract much from the overall experience.

Spheric Harlot
Clinically Insane

Joined: Nov 1999

+13

12/06, 04:18pm | report spam | close Reply |
Weird

There's tons of drugstores that don't sell frivolous party-joke condoms, and bookstores that don't sell pornographic manga, and record stores that don't sell Neonazi rock albums - even in Denmark.

Every single store owner is completely within his rights to curate his wares exactly as he sees fit, and how he deems them to match what image he's trying to convey.

Apple doesn't give a flying f*** either way about this "publicity", or about whether some morons confused about what Free Speech might actually mean, and about the relationship between national legislature and store policy, feel the need to poke fun.

Apple have decided what they want to sell, and what not. End of story.

Cronocide
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 2010

+1

12/06, 04:18pm | report spam | (1 reply) close Reply |
I'm sorry

That there isn't p*** EVERYWHERE you look. For heavens sake, isn't anything sacred anymore?

I thought Apple people treaty beauty with love, not lust.

I'm sorry that this is my first post to get a negative response, because I know it will.

joecab
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 2004

-2

12/06, 04:25pm | report spam | close Reply |
eh, don't care

The rules will relax more in time. The whole new smartphone phenomenon is still a fledgling one. I still don't think I'm missing out on anything.

yticolev
Forum Regular

Joined: May 2002

+6

12/06, 04:29pm | report spam | close Reply |
Censorship?

Technically, the Danish tabloid continues to be free to publish. They also publish on the web and if they choose to, can publish the page 3 girls photos (they apparently don't now). Then anyone with internet access, including iPhone users can view them.

If the paper wants to make smart phones, they can also control applications that you can load on them, and gain the profits and losses due to their business decisions. Until Apple gains control over all media distribution, it is hard to cry foul here.

macnixer
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2006

0

12/06, 04:31pm | report spam | (1 reply) close Reply |
Danish culture does not apply everywhere

I am all for Apple banning such Apps from the App Store. I do not want my kid to run that app. I know there are nudists, and people who have no problem with being stark naked, but that does not mean you have to force it upon others. If they want their publication in the App Store why not have password protected section for Side 9?

The next we will hear is some BDSM site publishes and app and Apple will reject it and whole media world will start shouting 'Apple Censorship'. Stop this nonsense and keep your birthday suit covered. I do not want to see your ugliness on my street.

TomMcIn
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Dec 2001

+2

12/06, 04:32pm | report spam | close Reply |
Try Android or Windows

If there is such a demand for this stuff, the publishers should move to the Android or Windows stores. When Apple loses all its customers to something that does not match their standards, then the p*** pushers will have made their point. In the meantime, they are just pedlars trying to push their wares on the back of an organization that has worked hard to build on different values.

The Danes are no better than all those Asian sites that plastered kids all over iTunes. Thank goodness they are long gone. No loss what so ever.

qazwart
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 2001

+5

12/06, 04:35pm | report spam | close Reply |
Apple's Bottom Line

Apple has taken a certain prudish position because Apple thinks it'll make more money in the end.

If 70% of the apps in the app store are pictures of nekkid wommin, how many businesses would allow their employees to use an iPhone? How many people would not bother even considering an iPad? How many parents would allow their kids to use an iPod Touch?

And I would say that 70% would be a low number. Just look at the number of f*** apps that came out once people realized that a few hours of coding could net them hundreds of thousands of dollars.

I doubt there's some Puritan streak in the heart of either Apple or Jobs. They're interest is the public perception of the iPad, the iPhone, and Apple products in general. These are business and family oriented machines that provide useful info, and not another peepshow appliance.

itotah
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Dec 2010

+2

12/06, 04:36pm | report spam | close Reply |
who cares...

Big deal. Brick and mortar stores have rules as to what they will sell or not sell all the time. Go to Target or Walmart or any store and see what they have on their magazine and software racks. I, for one, prefer the Apple's policies here. I think it's good for business and it's a classier image for their store. For the others, there's always the internet and Android.

shawnce
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 2000

+6

12/06, 04:37pm | report spam | close Reply |
Apple has been sitting on...

Apple has been sitting on an adult category in the store for a while now. They just apparently haven't decided to open that pandoras box.

MindBlade
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jun 2008

-7

12/06, 04:39pm | report spam | close Reply |
Eurotrash Bull*&^*^

>>>>Apple doesn't give a flying f*** either way about this "publicity", or about whether some morons confused about what Free Speech

MindBlade
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jun 2008

-7

12/06, 04:40pm | report spam | close Reply |
Eurotrash Bull*&^*^

----Apple doesn't give a flying f*** either way about this "publicity", or about whether some morons confused about what Free Speech-----

Bingo....who cares about what a bunch euro-horndogs can or can't do on the Apple App store? They can print their magazine...put up a website....all sorts of ways they can share their "content"...they are not limited in their speech.

The owner of a bookstore gets to decide what books he sells...no one can compel him to sell others. This is Apple's bookstore..they decide.

Plus...given the likely activity of their readership with that particular page.. Steve has higher aspirations for the iPhone....not the sort of "touch interface" he had in mind.

FireWire
Mac Elite

Joined: Oct 1999

+1

12/06, 04:44pm | report spam | (1 reply) close Reply |
enough

enough with the "apple is within their rights to..." every time Apple is doing something stupid. We know they have the right to, we're b.itching because we think it's a stupid decision. Saying they have to right to do a thing does not solve anything and just reassure them that it was a good decision. It baffles me every time I see this...

hayesk
Professional Poster

Joined: Sep 1999

0

12/06, 04:45pm | report spam | close Reply |
Laughable

It's funny that this magazine and other Apple critics think Apple is doing this because they are prude. No, it's because the majority Apple's customers are prude.

So is Apple part of the problem for caving to prude people - sure, but is that such a bad thing? No - it's not really that important. Apple is a vendor of luxury products, not a government, press agency, public organization, or anything else that should be championing the rights of people. They can sell whatever they like as long as it's legal. And it's still legal to choose to not sell something.

Bobfozz
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 2008

-3

12/06, 04:47pm | report spam | (1 reply) close Reply |
never learn

Don't buy an iPad or anything else of Apple's you Danish idiot. You "knew" their rules and you expect to care about "who?" You? Make your own tablet, see how well that does.

scottnichol
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 1999

-2

12/06, 04:58pm | report spam | (2 replies) close Reply |
on my iPhone...

there are plenty of naked women. i am a art photographer and i take a lot of artistic nude photos. almost none of them could be considered p***. but yet, iTunes lets me sync any of them that i want from my Aperture library right to my phone and my iPad.

i guess i just don't understand the draconian rules when, in fact, if you really want nudes on your iPhone, it can be done with Apple's own software. we're all adults and should be able to make adult decisions about what kind of apps to put on our phones. there's even a warning that comes up for some apps that says that it might contain adult content including nudity or sexual content.

scott
www.silverystars.com

kerryb
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

+1

12/06, 05:25pm | report spam | close Reply |
they got Steve all wrong...

He never wears green mock turtle necks, only black mock turtle necks and furthermore green jeans?

dogzilla
Grizzled Veteran

Joined: Sep 1999

+2

12/06, 07:54pm | report spam | close Reply |
Here's what's important...

Apple never tricked anyone. They told everyone upfront that theirs is a "curated" app store, meaning they get to choose what goes on and what doesn't, and all purely at their whim. They've recently set out clearer guidelines as to what's allowed and what isn't, but this was purely because not doing so was hurting their profits, not because they wanted to support free speech via their app store. If one wants free speech, they repeatedly (and rightfully) point to the web, which every IOS product has free and open access to. If I sent this magazine a closeup of anal s** and they don't publish it, do I get to call them a "Nanny state"?

And btw - I always thought the idea of jamming naked women into a news magazines was cheap and wimpy. If you want to publish pictures of naked women, start selling pornography and I'll fully support your right to do so. But please, stop jamming naked women (it's invariably women, isn't it?) into my every magazine under the assumption that everyone everywhere will *always* want to see t*** and a flash of pubic hair.

fmlogue
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2009

-1

12/06, 08:12pm | report spam | close Reply |
Do you want some cheese with that whine?

Wah Wah Wah.

elroth
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 2006

+3

12/06, 08:16pm | report spam | close Reply |
give it a rest

Why should Apple have to allow nudity in apps? Free speech, free speech - shut up already.

You can go to any website anywhere on an iPad or iPhone. Enjoy all the nudity you want. But why should Apple (or anyone) have to include nude content?

What a bunch of whiners.

JLL
Professional Poster

Joined: Apr 1999

0

12/07, 04:21am | report spam | close Reply |
Regarding Android Magasinet

"There are no App Store rules expressly forbidding publications about Apple rivals."

No, there are no rules about that, but there is a rule forbidding the mentioning of competing platforms in the app name:

"Apps with metadata that mentions the name of any other mobile platform will be rejected"

charlituna
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2009

+2

12/09, 12:42am | report spam | close Reply |
My question

Is this tabloid on the web. Is apple blocking that access. So get it that way

It is wonderful that the Danish are so nonchalant about nudity however they should not have expected an non Danish company to bow down to their sensibilities. And given all the press about the whole no p*** etc they should have expected a rejection. Just as much as the other group really shouldn't be shocked that Apple rejected a magazine 100% devoted to their direct competition

Apple has the right to say no, even if some folks don't like it when it happens. If it bugs you that much vote with your wallet and dont buy an iPhone etc or even a Mac computer

ian73
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Dec 2010

0

12/09, 01:09am | report spam | close Reply |
Europeans love topless girls on boring rags

b****** sell magazines, so does frivolous claims such as those of travesty! Tragedy! Oppressor! Fight the power! A-mazing Bigfoot Diets!!!
Here's a plan for the tabloid:
1.Sink Billions into developing a device and an os,
2.gain worldwide penetration in international markets.
3. place b****** prominently on startup screen of device.
4. Steve Jobs cries and wishes he'd thought of that.

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Danish tabloid takes Jobs, Apple to task for prudish rules

updated 03:20 pm EST, Mon December 6, 2010

Accuses Apple of fostering 'nanny state'

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Oh. She's hot.

It's funny how

Publicity

Ridiculous

Right...

good one!

Takes Apple to task

Weird

I'm sorry

eh, don't care

Censorship?

Danish culture does not apply everywhere

Try Android or Windows

Apple's Bottom Line

who cares...

Apple has been sitting on...

Eurotrash Bull*&^*^

Eurotrash Bull*&^*^

enough

Laughable

never learn

on my iPhone...

they got Steve all wrong...

Here's what's important...

Do you want some cheese with that whine?

give it a rest

Regarding Android Magasinet

My question

Europeans love topless girls on boring rags

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