Apple Rejects RSS App Over Video Link

Apple's App Store policy continues to baffle and frustrate developers who submit applications. The most recent casualty of the App Store is an independent developer who tried to get an RSS application listed in the store.

Software developer Duane Fields at Exact Magic contacted the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) with the hopes of developing an RSS reader that would display content coming from the foundation to iPhone and iPod Touch users.

The EFF is a non-profit organization that defends users in the "networked world," defending free-speech, privacy, innovation and consumer rights.

Apple rejected the RSS app because it linked to a parody of the bunker scene from the film "Downfall" that was created by EFF Board Chairman Brad Templeton. In that scene from the original movie, actor Bruno Ganz plays Hitler in the final days of the Third Reich, ranting to gathered members of his party. That particular scene quickly became an Internet meme with people changing the subtitles to make it appear that Hitler was talking about something else. Some examples include Terrell Owens' performance on the Dallas Cowboys and a wide range of other topics.

Templeton remixed the original film scene to have it appear that Hitler was ranting about the DCMA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) and fair use on the Web. In that remix there was a four-letter word which would never appear on regular television.

And apparently Apple doesn't want it to appear in its App Store either. Fields' App Store app -- the EFF RSS reader -- was rejected because, it appears, Apple finds that language objectionable.

In the text of the rejection notice, Apple informs Fields that "we cannot post this version of your iPhone application to the App Store at this time because it contains objectionable content which is in violation of Section 3.3.12 from the iPhone SDK Agreement."

Section 3.3.12 of the iPhone SDK Agreement states: "Applications must not contain any obscene, pornographic, offensive or defamatory content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, etc.), or other content or materials that in Apple's reasonable judgment may be found objectionable by iPhone or iPod touch users."

The salient clause in section 3.3.12 of the iPhone SDK Agreement is "Apple's reasonable judgment." Given that Apple has already rejected apps that let users put other faces over a picture of Jesus and that link to the Kama Sutra, perhaps it's not surprising that it's rejecting one with a link to a video clip that contains a naughty word?

The problem here is that Apple continues to feel that it can be the tastemaker and arbiter of all things proper and good. In some ways, it can -- after all, the App Store is owned by Apple and is its online distribution arm. But that doesn't mean Apple should have final say over what an individual can and cannot purchase legally and for private consumption.

Apple's main goal should be to function as a business and make money for itself. It shouldn't be concerning itself with what is reasonable for individuals.

Apple's "reasonable judgment" fails to notice, however, that Templeton's remix of "Downfall" is easily accessible on YouTube and with the iPhone's built in YouTube app, just as easy to view.

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