Apple Deems Pulitzer Prize Winning Content Unacceptable for App Store

Apple has refused Pulitzer Prize winning cartoons by Mark Fiore from the App Store because his satire 'ridicules public figures', according to the Nieman Journalism Lab.

In December, Apple rejected his iPhone app, NewsToons, because, as Apple put it, his satire “ridicules public figures,” a violation of the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement, which bars any apps whose content in “Apple’s reasonable judgement may be found objectionable, for example, materials that may be considered obscene, pornographic, or defamatory.”

Here is the rejection letter sent by Apple...


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Dear Mr. Fiore,

Thank you for submitting NewsToons to the App Store. We’ve reviewed NewsToons and determined that we cannot post this version of your iPhone application to the App Store because it contains content that ridicules public figures and is in violation of Section 3.3.14 from the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement which states:

“Applications may be rejected if they contain content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, sounds, etc.) that in Apple’s reasonable judgement may be found objectionable, for example, materials that may be considered obscene, pornographic, or defamatory.” Examples of such content have been attached for your reference.

If you believe that you can make the necessary changes so that NewsToons does not violate the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement, we encourage you to do so and resubmit it for review.


Regards,

iPhone Developer Program
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Apple's policies regarding the App Store have caused serious concerns of late. Constantly shifting guidelines, hypocritical approvals, anti-competitive measures, and now editorial content censorship are casting the company in an increasingly negative light. With Android marketplace gaining momentum and Windows Phone 7 around the corner, Apple needs to be careful not to destroy its relationship with developers and customers.

Read More [via Gizmodo]