Detail, in response to Moriah: When I mention gratuitous obscenity, I

Of course, most of the books will be overpriced at first and won’t sell much.

Now that I’ll agree with you on, David.

As for the rest, I doubt that robots are running Apple, at least not until Steve Jobs goes. Surely we can find humans to hold responsible for the censorship. Don’t the anonymous flunkies answer to someone? Even the software filters have humans involved—to set ‘em up.

Also, remember: I put my book up as a free app. Apple doesn’t have any great incentive to approve it because it won’t make any money off it.

But I doubt Apple has been an easier on paid apps. I wonder if MoJo hoped to sell her book.

Thanks,
David

Apple’s policy will simply change one day and something will get through that didn’t before. I just think Apple’s sort of overwhelmed at this point and didn’t think that ebooks would be a big deal. That will change, especially as traditional publishers put their books up.

Also, remember: I put my book up as a free app. Apple doesn’t have any great incentive to approve it because it won’t make any money off it. Once there’s some revenue involved for Apple on big books that are “R” rated, they’ll get through. Of course, most of the books will be overpriced at first and won’t sell much.

In the post, I noted you have uncensored versions. But I’m still very disappointed you gave up the fight with the Apple App Store (although I continue to wish you the best of luck with the book!).

Having your book as an iPhone App at this point is much better.

But of course! That’s why so many people dislike Apple’s censorship act: it does matter. Just the same, the current apps are getting into proprietary tech. Maybe the iPhone could come with an ePub-capable reader and let people install shortcuts that did work with the reader. At the same time the phone could allow installation of third-party readers.

Now back to the censorship issue. Are you going to follow up on CNET? You already have examples from this blog—not just from me, but also from others. If Apple goes by language alone, then I suspect I’m SOL with The Solomon Scandals even though the F word is appropriate for the characters who use it.

Thanks,
David R

But let me say this. Having your book as an iPhone App at this point is much better. It’s a one-click process to download for anybody who’s registered with iTunes (which is millions of people). It’s much more of a pain to have to go through Stanza and Smashwords. Try it if you have an iPhone or iPod Touch. You’ll see what I mean.

“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.”

This book is not even remotely pornographic or obscene. It was written as a serious reference book n the subject of sex. What is even more curious is that this ridiculously prudish attitude only exists in the App Store part of iTunes. A search of iTunes for titles with words like “F**k, C**T, PR**K, etc. all come up with hundreds of hits. F-bombs and worse are apparently OK at Apple if you sing them!! Go figure.

What is even more distressing is that there is no recourse. There is no actual person who takes responsibility for the decision, it comes with ‘Regards” form the “iPhone Developer Program”. Emails attempting to provide enlightenment to the “Program” go unanswered. There is no recourse. I think back to the famous Apple Big Brother Superbowl ad. It is sad to think that Apple has now become Big Brother!

As for selling via eReader, do you mean the eReader store owned by Fictionwise?

I guess they feel they will have better visibility if they can be seen in the App Store?? Assuming of cours Apple lets them in.

The only way to get this changed is to fight it, not to give in. Make enough noise and Apple does listen.

I’m torn over the issue. I mean, it seems intuitive to me to want to capitalize on another revenue stream and so… Why isn’t this happening?

In other news, now that SmashWords content is in the Stanza store, I can get that visibility with iPhone even if not in iApp form.

No gratuitous obscenity!

What about non-gratuitous obscenity?

I was given the option of white-washing my book so it would make the cut and I decided against it.

It seems to me Apple is actively attempting to discourage book reading. The ScrollMotion deal (of YA books with funky and non-working DRM) notwithstanding, I just don’t know what other conclusion to draw.