Does Cinemax App Violate Apple's Strict Mature Content Policy?

[Michael Essany]

At this point, it's safe to say that more people know the premium cable channel as "Skinemax" than its legitimate name Cinemax. The long-time provider of after-hours soft-core adult entertainment has found a new home as an app on the iOS platform.

And some folks are taking umbrage at the "hypocrisy" on the part of Apple for allowing the Cinemax app into the App Store. You see, Cinemax's new "Max GO" iOS app doesn't filter much of its familiar steamy content. To be fair, there's more to Cinemax's programming than just the stuff that would kill your grandmother. There are top movies, documentaries, and other assorted quality mainstream content.

But but it's the explicit sexual content that has so many people up in arms... among other things. After all, it's no secret that Apple maintains a pretty serious ban on pornography in any fashion through the App Store. As it stands, iTunes has bestowed the controversial app with a +17 rating in response to the programming's "violence; sexual content or nudity; profanity or crude humor; and alcohol, tobacco or drug use references."

So unwavering has Apple's policy been with regard to restricting adult content in the App Store that even mature entertainment giants like Playboy have been stymied in their efforts to bring the full-breadth of their adult content to the iDevice family.

So will Cinemax get a free pass... or will the "Max GO" iOS app be going itself in the near future? Only time will tell.

Source: Cinemax (iTunes Link)

[Madman604x]

why don't they just open a mobile browser site and stream MP4 pr0n?

[asmacumber]

Ummm, everyone realizes you can watch the same kind of content via the Netflix app, right?!?! It's not like Cinemax airs hardcore porn. It is softcore, which means it shows exactly as much as your average R rated film.

This "article" is sensationalistic ... please find some actual news to report.

[seandiego]

If they ban the MAX GO app, then they have to ban the HBO GO app because it has episodes of real sex, pornacopia and Katie Morgan available.

P.S. Please don't ban the HBO GO app.

[sziklassy]

Apple banning adult content is stupid to begin with. Seriously, what do they care, and moreover, how do they have the right to limit it? It is ridiculous that, out of the box, we are required to buy software from Apple and only from Apple. Obviously there are other options, but that involves (technically) voiding your warranty. If they tried to pul this same BS on their desktop OS they would get burned alive. It's time the courts jump in and call BS on Apple only allowing app sales on their ridiculous store.

[feidhlim1986]

You see better tits watching Game of Throne, Spartacus, True Blood....etc...etc

[tha1youshouldfear]

Ok, this is stupid because the HBO GO app has softcore porn on it's app as well so are they going to ban that one as well??

[unison999]

You see better tits watching Game of Throne, Spartacus, True Blood....etc...etc

I am not so sure about Game of Thrones... I see flappy ones, small ones... Don't remember anything spectacular. Sparticus and True Blood is not bad... Hell you even see Sasha Gray's massive bush in Entourage last season.
The only surprise this year is end of episode 2 of Camalot where you see Bond Girl's pair

[javiert30]

If you have MaxGo or HBOGo is because you have the subscription with your TV provider, the app itself don't do nothing, is the channel and if you are not subscribed you can not see nothing. So you are allowing to see that content on your iPhone yourself, not the app itself. You are going to see PlayboyGo soon I guess.