Edible Apple

In the latest episode of Apple fumbling around the app store rejection process, Apple rejected an app which provided users with detailed information about members of the United States Congress because each politician’s entry was accompanied by a caricature of said politician, each drawn by talented Mad magazine illustrator Tom Richmond.  Apple’s reasoning was that such drawings are in violation of the iPhone developer agreement, presumably because they poke fun at political figures.  The thing is, though, the caricature’s aren’t over the top or exaggerated at all.  In fact, they’re all right on the money.

Still, Apple sent the following letter to the developers this past Monday:

Dear Mr. Griggs,

Thank you for submitting Bobble Rep – 111th Congress Edition to the App Store. We’ve reviewed Bobble Rep – 111th Congress Edition 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 3.3.14 from the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement which states:

“Applications may be rejected if they contain content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, sounds, etc.) that in Apple’s reasonable judgement may be found objectionable, for example, materials that may be considered obscene, pornographic, or defamatory.”

A screenshot of this issue has been attached for your reference.

If you believe that you can make the necessary changes so that Bobble Rep – 111th Congress Edition does not violate the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement, we encourage you to do so and resubmit it for review.

Regards,

iPhone Developer Program

And for the record, Richmond drew 540, count-em, FIVE HUNDRED AND FORTY!, different caricatures.

You can check out the full scoop on the app rejection over here at Tom Richmond’s website.