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Apple Balks, Finally Relents, At Possible User Queries of Dictionary App

Posted by timothy on from the my-dictionary-doesn't-even-list-the-****ing-word dept.

Geoffrey.landis writes with a snippet from CNET reporting another example of offputting treatment at Apple's App Store: "'In this case, it's a dictionary app called Ninjawords (so called because ninjas are 'smart, accurate, and really fast') that was rejected three times over the course of two months, mostly because 'objectionable' words could be looked up and found in the dictionary's search function, Gruber reported.' PCWorld also reports the story." Note that the app was eventually approved, but only after a few go-rounds and changes.

1 of 259 comments (clear)

  1. Apple has done this before by retsyx · · Score: 4, Informative

    I am the author of the until recently reasonably successful application Dictionary. Apple required censorship to allow Dictionary to be posted. This was back in December 2008. The full text of the rejection notice was:

    "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."

    The screenshot provided with the rejection notice should the same type of words as in the OP. Again, words you had to search for to find.

    More recently, Apple decided that because Dictionary provides uncensored access to Wikipedia, it must carry a 17+ rating. The text in this case was:

    "Dictionary allows unfiltered access to Wikipedia, which includes frequent mature or suggestive themes. Applications must be rated accordingly for the highest level of content that the user is able to access."

    As an app developer, this kind of behavior on Apple's part is very frustrating. Apple have fallen off their rocker, IMO.