Some aren't sure what to make of the App Store's decision to reject what would have been a cool "Mad Libs"-style app for the iPhone. But Apple isn't willing to share the laughs with this one. And because they can't, neither can we.
Perhaps Lex Friendman at
MacWorld put it best:
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Try this one on for size: Apple on [day] rejected an iPhone app devoted to [phrase] for [ridiculous reason]. This time, the answers are "Monday," "contacting your Congressional representatives," and "including caricatures of all 540 members of both houses of Congress, which Apple has deemed offensive."
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Although some are saying the App Store's decision to reject the app was "patriotic" because the company doesn't want to encourage the mockery of elected leaders in the United States, others think the App Store had less noble reasons... like just following "policy."
Tom Richmond, who serves as an artist for MAD Magazine, broke the news on his blog about Apple shooting down the app he and entrepreneur Ray Griggs created called "Bobble Rep," a complete database of every elected member of Congress, their contact information (for search by zip code) and, instead of a photo, a unique caricature of each Congressperson and Senator.
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It's those caricatures that Apple apparently considers "content that ridicules public figures," a violation of Section 3.3.14 of the iPhone developer agreement, and a reason that Apple's previously cited for rejecting apps that poke fun at politicians.
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In case you were wondering, the app gets its name because shaking the iPhone or iPod causes the caricature's head to bobble around.
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Sounds cathartic, right? Maybe they can make a sequel to the app that features the heads of App Store reviewers.
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Although there is no shortage of developers confounded and frustrated to learn that their seemingly harmless app has been rejected, the often hypocritical or downright confusing approval process still doesn't seem to be impairing the overall number of apps submitted and ultimately admitted to the app store. Most developers, after all, bounce back with a revised, more acceptable app. And, hopefully, that's exactly what Mr. Richmond will find a way to do with his creative work that deserves to see the light of day.
Image via tomrichmond.com
11-09-2009, 09:47 PM
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