Apple Rejects App Containing Obama “Hope” Image From App Store
I’m pretty sure you are all familiar with the famous Shepard Fairey’s “Hope” image of Barack Obama, right? It’s the red, white and blue portrait of President Obama [pictured] that became a popular icon of his campaign. Well, as part of StartMobile’s latest application, it became the latest victim of Apple’s App Store approval process because according to Apple, it ridicules public figures. Let’s take into account that this is a very well done piece of art that hangs in the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian, plus copies displayed in many museums all around the country and a true symbol of hope during the 2008 Presidential Campaign. Not only is Apple criticising the app developer, but it also can be offensive to the artist who created the image. Here’s what the Apple App Store had to say to StartMobile in a rejection letter:Subject: Start Mobile Wallpaper Gallery 1.0: Application Submission Feedback
Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 12:27:02 -0700 (PDT)
From: iPhone Developer Program
To: XXXXX@XXXXXXX.com, XXXXX@XXXXXXX.netPlease include the line below in follow-up emails for this request.
Follow-up: 74455381
Dear START MOBILE, INC.,Thank you for submitting Start Mobile Wallpaper Gallery to the App Store. We’ve reviewed Start Mobile Wallpaper Gallery and determined that we cannot post this version of your iPhone application to the App Store because it contains content that ridicules public figures and is in violation of Section 3.3.12 from the iPhone SDK Agreement which 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 judgement may be found objectionable by iPhone or iPod touch users.”
An example of a public figure is attached.
If you believe that you can make the necessary changes so that Start Mobile Wallpaper Gallery does not violate the iPhone SDK Agreement we encourage you to do so and resubmit it for review.
Regards,
iPhone Developer Program
****************************
On top of it, StartMobile has another app featuring another image of Obama by urban artist Justin Bua, waiting for approval for 2 months now. I wonder, who are these morons in charge of approving the apps for the iPhone/iPod? This is completely ridiculous! The Apple App Store approval system has become very controversial lately. They have been rejecting perfectly good applications and coming up with the lamest excuses for the rejections. What do you think, is Apple being unfair?
[ source: TechCrunch ]
July 4th, 2009 at 10:40 am
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