Apple finds EFF updates app ‘objectionable’
p2pnet news view Freedom | P2P:-Last month, says the EFF’s Corynne McSherry, the foundation had an email from software developer Duane Fields of Exact Magic.
It asked for permission to use the EFF logo on an iPhone application that exclusively displays content from EFF’s RSS feed.
“Sounded like a great idea to us, as long as it was clear that the app wasn’t an EFF-sponsored product,” says Corynne on DeepLinks.
But Apple rejected the app. Why? “Because,” she says, “it claims EFF’s content runs afoul of the iTune’s App Store’s policy against ‘objectionable’ content, going on »»»
Apparently, Apple objects to a blog post that linked to a “Downfall” parody video created by EFF Board Chairman Brad Templeton. The parody casts Hitler in the role of entertainment industry executive, ranting about the failure of DRM and the continued popularity of fair use. The parody includes the fleeting appearance of the f-bomb in a subtitle.
Now, Apple may find EFF “objectionable” for any number of reasons (here’s just one.) But surely linking to a video that includes a “bad word” can’t be one of them. After all, the YouTube app that Apple includes on every iPhone that ships will let you watch exactly the same video, bad word and all. And you can use the Safari web browser that ships with every iPhone to access EFF’s website, as well as millions of web sites that include much more extreme language.
This is just the latest example of the failings of Apple’s iTunes App Store approval process, which has been revealed to be not just anti-competitive, discriminatory, censorial, and arbitrary, but downright absurd. Just last month, Apple was widely criticized when it rejected the Eucalyptus e-book reader because it could access the public domain translation of the Kama Sutra (Apple quickly reversed course on that one).
“Let’s be clear,” says Corynne, adding, “we are not saying that Apple has to carry apps it doesn’t like in its App Store.
“But iPhone owners who don’t want Apple playing the role of language police for their software should have the freedom to go elsewhere. This is precisely why EFF has asked the Copyright Office to grant an exemption to the DMCA for jailbreaking iPhones. It’s none of Apple’s business if I want an app on my phone that lets me read EFF’s RSS feed, use Sling Player over 3G, or read the Kama Sutra.”
Stay tuned.
DeepLinks – Apple Rejects EFF Updates App, Claims Parody Content Is Objectionable, June 1, 2009
entertainment industry executive – Hitler ‘Downfall’ DMCA spoof video, May 29, 2009
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June 3rd, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Good distinction. Apple can do as they want, but the law should not force up to use their product only as they feel is ok. Apple can make it as hard to Jailbreak as they want, but the law should not say that Jailbreaking is illegal.