08/26/2008, 3:40pm, EDT
Tuesday, August 26th
Apple bans Murderdrome iPhone app
Apple has banned the comic book iPhone app Murderdrome, its creators claim. This adds to a growing list of titles that have been banned from the App Store for one reason or another, including Tetris clone Tris, lightsaber emulator PhoneSaber, and the "bling" app I Am Rich. Apple has used a variety of reasons for each pull, this time the iPhone SDK's assertion that content cannot offend Apple's "reasonable" sensibilities.
Infurious claims it would like to work with Apple to create a ratings system, which would allow apps that are "no more offensive than many of the R rated films available to download on iTunes."
The Infurious blog has garnered a range of reactions; the bulk of posters have called for Apple to reverse its stance, or follow the ratings system suggestion. None appear to support Apple's view. "this is ridiculous that this has been banned," says one poster. "the content is comic violence, with no use of serious language and no sign of anything else that would be offensive." Another comments that it "seems entirely unfair that Apple are being so inconsistent about censorship. So I can pay for and download a blackly humorous cartoon or a movie full of stylized violence, but not a similarly themed comicbook?"
Filed under: iPhone, developer, iPhone apps, Apple
Other story tags: App Store, SDK, censorship
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It's Clearly Censorship
Apple is practicing censorship. Period.
What else does Apple sell on iTunes that might be deemed offensive by someone?
I'm surprised, because where violence usually gets a "pass", anything to do with sex or even George Carlin's 7 Words, rarely do. I've played online war games where typing a 4-letter-word into chat can get you kicked or banned. It certainly makes no sense.
Implementing a rating system, if some are concerned about "the children", might work. I loathe that "for the children" tactic used to demonize, marginalize and censor.
Having their work banned by Apple is the best publicity they could have hoped for. Ironically, it's probably good publicity for the App Store, too.
You gotta love all the hypocrisy!
lawyers..
Apple is so freaking risk-averse that it's banning anything that could find them on the wrong end of a lawsuit. I pin this one on the lawyers.
it's not censorship
unless the government does it. Apple has pretty much every right to determine what it wants offered in its store.
It's still douche-y of them and Apple should treat its customers like adults. But it is not censorship.
As long as...
As long as there is no rating system, this should be banned. The iTunes App store has to remain family friendly until such a rating system and controls are in place. Give it time, and controls will be in place for content like this. Apple has to draw the line somewhere. Do they also allow Virtual Strip teases on the iPhone? Maybe, but not yet, and Apple has every right to protect its store and its ecosystem.
As long as...
As long as there is no rating system, this should be banned. The iTunes App store has to remain family friendly until such a rating system and controls are in place. Give it time, and controls will be in place for content like this. Apple has to draw the line somewhere. Do they also allow Virtual Strip teases on the iPhone? Maybe, but not yet, and Apple has every right to protect its store and its ecosystem.
it is censorship
just not government censorship. it is within apple's right to censor as the owner of the app store. but to say it is not censorship is ludicrous
it is NOT censorship
Apple is not editing this material, removing or blocking certain items... therefore it is NOT censoring anything. Apple is banning it.
Ok, now that we have had out 7th grade english lesson, it's pretty fucked up of APple to do...
My guess is some parent whined about it (just like those Walmart customers do) and Apple pulled it until it can come up with a ratings system for the App store.
hmmm...friendly!
Who says that the outmoded nuclear concept of "the family" is a legitimate foundation for a form of censorship. The web would be red-hot if it was a matter that the content had to be "white-people" friendly or heterosexual "friendly"!!! Family is as offensive a concept to the modern single, unmarried or childless as some of the more traditional segregators! What century are we in? Of course, Apple towed the line of the Chinese government in relation to the pro-Tibet album on iTunes. So nice to know that His Royal Steveness is looking after us! Gee...pretty soon we won't even have to think for ourselves...new from Apple...the i-Diot!
Infurious is no WB
Besides it being Apple's discretion...
You shouldn't equate Infurious' distribution of a violence comic strip to the distribution of violent movies by companies that also offer a wide range of non-violent content.
re: censord
Censor: "To keep from being published or transmitted: ban, black out, hush (up), stifle, suppress. Idioms: keep/put a lid on"
Do you want to try again with that "Apple is not censoring something, they're banning it"? I remember a goofy debate with someone on slashdot too about this, who seemed to insist that censorship only applies when performed by a government. But it's quite obvious that censorship can come in many forms.