Monday, Jun 15, 2009    Text size: 

This time the app in question is called Eucalyptus, a simple ebook reader that Apple rejected on the grounds that it could be used to download an erotic book. Specifically, Apple told developer James Montgomerie that his app could be used to download the ancient erotic book "Kama Sutra."

Apple has since reversed its decision and allowed the app, which augments the ebook-reading experience with scalable fonts and flippable pages.

According to online sources, the Apple employee who initially rejected Eucalyptus said that the "Kama Sutra" contained "inappropriate sexual content," this despite the book's status a classic work.

In any event, Apple's reversal, coupled with talk that it will soon add parental ratings and controls to the App Store, are both receiving good response from online pundits.

"Was the initial rejection another example of the capricious nature of the App Store review process, the work of an overzealous app reviewer whose decision — once spread around the Internet — got overruled?" wrote Jonathan Seff of MacWorld.com. "Hard to say, but Apple (eventually) did the right thing, and that's what really matters."

Apple cheftain Steve Jobs had dismissed the idea of adult apps on the device since its launch, but enforcing that policy has brought mixed results for Apple.

Developer James Montgomerie commented on the rejection on his blog, using screenshots to illustrate what happened.

Apple's inition rejection drew sharp criticism from the blogosphere, including leading tech blog TechCrunch.com.

Tech analyst MG Siegler noted that it's easy to download other explicit material to the iPhone using other apps, including an app called Stanza as well as Amazon's Kindle iPhone app.

Siegler also offered Apple a reminder that the Safari web browser, by definition, can access any number of adult and otherwise explicit websites.

"If you really expect the app to remove that one book from the entire project, you’re insane," Siegler wrote, addressing Apple directly. "Instead, you need to let this app pass, just as you have for the multiple other apps that can access this book in various ways and go about your day finding apps that are actually malicious in their intent."