Apple allegedly cracking down harder on adult App Store content

by Ben Gilbert on Feb 22nd 2010 6:30PM

Wobble iBoobs -- an ... ahem ... adult App for the iPhone -- was recently kicked from Apple's digital distribution store due to "overtly sexual content" that the publisher at one point deemed acceptable for sale (to the tune of $300,000 AUD/$269,820 USD). The application's outraged developer has since posted the letter from Apple on his personal blog and aired his grievances more thoroughly over the course of another 11 pieces.

He certainly makes a strong argument against the claimed "overtly sexual" charge from Apple, starting off with the fact that Wobble iBoobs doesn't actually come with any pictures. "Yep, no content – it ships without any pics at all – how can it be overtly sexual, people use their own pics." Further, he lays out what he claims are an Apple rep's answers when he requested the new criteria for App submission, of which include "No skin" and "No silhouettes that indicate that Wobble can be used for wobbling boobs" (like this). While the blog's writer, iPhone app promoter Jon Atherton from Glentwood, has some sound arguments, we would maybe suggest renaming the App. Just a thought is all.

[Via CasualGaming.biz]

Source

Tags: app-store, apple, censorship, digital-distribution, glentwood, iPod, itunes, itunes-store, jon-atherton, wobble-iboobs

Reader Comments (42)

Indeed. I read this on Macrumors this afternoon. Hundreds of Apps have been removed, and the opinions are mixed.

Seems like Apple is really bringing down the whip.
And the paddle.

Oh, and a pair of handcuffs.

That sounds far sexier than what they're actually doing.

Go on.

My avatar feels this conversation is relevant to its interests.

This leads me to wonder what the Ipad iteration of the game's selling point would be had the games life not been cut short..

Get a Droid.

This is yet another reason why the iPad is going to be a complete disaster. Are they going to censor "iBooks" (ugh) as well?

No Catcher in the Rye for you, my friend.

Seriously, Apple as gatekeeper for all things wholesome is going to be worse than an Arkansas school board.

Why don't they make up their minds BEFORE they allow it in the store in the first place, take this for example http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10226232-37.html

IMO this has no place on Joystiq. Stick to real game coverage please.

some of the apps affected are games. just because they're on a phone doesn't mean they're not real games.

While it is Apple's right to disallow certain content or apps from appearing on their store, it is kind of ridiculous for them to allow an app, take whatever their percentage of the profit is that they get from said app after it sells pretty well and then claim outrage when someone or something complains about the app. If they were truly appalled by the app then maybe they should of either not allowed it in the first place or return any money they made from the app to the creator as taking the money shows where their priorities truly lie.

And why is this on Joystiq? Engadget or their Apple blog would have been a better place for it.

Because some of the apps getting pulled were games (and you bet your ass that Engadget/TUAW had stories on this).

Also, it shows that Apple has the same standards for content that the other console manufacturers have - boobs is a guaranteed AO from the ESRB (see: Coffee, Hot) so it wouldn't be approved for sale on any of the consoles either.

Bare breasts isn't a guaranteed AO. God of War, Heavy Rain, BMX XXX, and Dante's Inferno are some games that feature bare breasts (the last one on the list being rather... bizarre). The deal with Hot Coffee was it was a sexual mini-game (granted, you had to hack to access it, anyways...), not because it had bare breasts.

hot coffee was fully clothed wasn't it?

This has been my major concern with the App store from the begining. Without any clear rules as to what is allowed and appropriate and what is not, putting anything at all on the app store is a huge gamble. It's not fair to developers to say "Hey, develop for my device! Spend lots of money on it! Then when you're done, I'll decide if I want it on my store or not."

judging by the guidelines, a lot of the best games on iphone (like NOVA) are going to have to be edited or removed. that would be a HORRIBLE idea.

got a PS3 again?

LOL at the ad. Over 150,000 already wobbling!!! XD

What I wanna know is if that's 150,000 single boobs or 150,000 pairs of boobs.

Yeah, because those iBoobs were a great contribution to the community and will be sorely missed by everyone.

Whether or not it's a worthwhile app isn't the issue, the issue is that Apple is enforcing stricter censorship than before, removing our ability to make choices for ourselves. They're trying to act high and mighty about this WHEN THE THING COMES WITH A WEB BROWSER ALREADY INSTALLED ON THE THING.

AND DID YOU KNOW THERE'S PORN ON THE INTERNET? TONS OF IT, AND THAT'S WHY AL GORE INVENTED IT.

I don't see why but I thought I was an adult and could choose for myself.

No.

Choices must be made for you!

Apple is a big Company, they know best.

Your comment needs to be even bluer.

Seriously

Here's the thing, what if the dev of the app explicitly put an Adult/Mature rating? I don't know the details, but are those pulled apps have the appropriate ratings, or do the devs try to sneak them with a lesser age rating?

Apple's "rating" is actually chosen by the developer as part of the submission process (http://techcrunch.com/2009/06/29/heres-how-iphone-app-store-ratings-work-hint-they-dont/). If Apple doesn't agree with your rating, you aren't allowed in the store.

There is no ESRB rating for Apps... This may be a reason why (http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/psp-minis-developer-surprised-by-cost-of-esrb-ratings/), even at the discounted price of $800 to be rated, many developers would not be able to get an official rating.

@Gib: I've seen some of these kinds of juvenile apps having a 4+ ratings in the app store. If Apple is cracking down on those, then I don't mind. However, if Apple intentionally pulls apps where the devs have explicitly specify an adult/older age rating, then that's a problem. Since all of those apps are pulled down already, I guess we'll never know.

It's not that they just pulled this app down, they pulled down ALL apps which had "sexuality" in them. They pulled down 5000 apps, and when the guy in the story asked them what was going on, they quoted a new policy, including "no skin".

When naming off things that weren't allowed, he asked the Apple rep "What about burqas?", which pissed the rep off.

Lmao "I demand to be able to have jiggling boobie apps on my cell phone! How dare Apple stand in my way!"

You may not buy an Apple product because of how they control what can be released for the platform, but what a silly post to express that opinion on.

If you can't use your iFap, use your Palm!

portable porn is the god-given right of every American

Apple might as well merge with Disney, their prudishness is getting that high.

On the one hand, I dont want smut in the App Store. On the other, I dont trust Apple to be the censor.

They need to get a neutral trusted third party involved in rating/ limiting access to adults only.

Maybe there should just be a separate adults only app store that is separate from iTunes.

Will Apple give up control? Probably not. It just means they will lose leadership in the category once again. Just like they did with PCs.

Upvoted. I seriously hate Apple more every day. This should be impossible. Yet...

They completely do have a right to decide what apps can and cannot be developed for their platform. For example, all major game retailers do not carry AO rated games. Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo don't allow AO rated games on their platforms. So saying that Apple can't dictate what goes on their platform is completely ridiculous when Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have been doing it for years. Besides, are you really that distraught that some adult apps were taken off the app marketplace?

Starfoxa, that is because almost all retailers are "family friendly" and won't stock AO games, it's not that the the console makers won't do it, it's the developers and publishers that don't want to sell to smaller audiences.

@StarfoxA

That would make sense, but Apple allows Sports illustrated swimsuit edition and they ban a application that lets you buy clothing which happens to be a bathing suit. If you see pictures of the app, the women are in the same bathing suits as you find in a Sunday paper. This is why Apple should be smacked down for this. Apple's hypocracy always amazes me .

Damn it, now how am i going to by my piles and piles of dildos and other adult accessories while at the convenience of being on my iphone and being at work..... Simultaneously, Damn you corporate America You prude fools.

This story would be much cooler if it had turned out that the app was phoning home all the pics that people were using.

srsly what was that guy thinking

Jon Atherton is a horrible person. Just look and see:

http://negativegamer.com/2009/12/09/300-and-ill-talk-about-breasts-on-my-blog/

http://theportablegamer.com/2009/12/editorial-app-reviewed/

This guy is a douche. If he doesn't like Apple's hardass rules, he's welcome to develop his own mobile OS and App store.

Apple allegedly cracking down harder on adult App Store content

Reader Comments (42)

Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 6:44PM Funkmaster General said

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