Apple has refused to allow an application called "Comic Reader" in the iTunes Store because they don't like the comic book it ships with -- effectively, they've gotten into the business of banning or approving literature. It seems Apple would approve the application, ComicReader, but not the comic it ships with, Murderdrome. Follow the logic: Murderdrome is NOT an application - it is literature (of a sort). Interesting comment here at MikeCane2008.
Caution: He uses some pretty graphic scenes from Reservoir Dogs - ready for download in iTunes - to make his point that Apple is not comparing Apples to Apples.
Apple is not a public institution. It has every right to choose what things it associates with in terms of its business model. "Book banning" is a phrase that I've seen thrown around by anyone and at anyone who makes a choice to not allow everything under the sun. If the creators of the app don't include the offending comic, I suspect that Apple will relent, and then people who WANT the specific comic will be able to get it.
ReplyDeleteRuth, I agree with everything you said. It is the inconsistent enforcement of their policy that puzzles me. Thanks for the comment.
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