Trent Reznor Curses Apple For Rejecting NIN iPhone App

The Nine Inch Nails iPhone application update was rejected recently by Apple, purportedly because it contains objectionable content. Front man Trent Reznor posted the rejection email from Apple on the NIN message board, here’s an excerpt:

“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 (sic) may be found objectionable by iPhone or iPod touch users.”

iPhone applications don’t have a rating system like music and movies yet, and it seems that Apple has adopted a strict policy regarding curse words in apps. Reznor was, to say the least, extremely dissatisfied with the decision, and responded angrily:

“Thanks Apple for the clear description of the problem – as in, what do you want us to change to get past your stupid fucking standards? (…) You can buy The Downward Fucking Spiral on iTunes, but you can’t allow an iPhone app that may have a song with a bad word somewhere in it.”

Granted, Apple must sort through thousands of iPhone application submissions, and some are bound to get rejected by mistake. But NIN isn’t going to censor or edit the content on the app, so it looks like it’s going to remain pending for the time being. Furthermore, Apple’s policy is contradictory because songs with swearing are available through iTunes with an added “explicit” warning. Why can’t the same happen with apps?

Should iPhone apps get their own ratings system? Would such a system do anything to ease application developer’s worries? Maybe Reznor could just re-submit the app without the objectionable content, and then restore it later. Regardless, Apple should review their approval process, so let’s hope Reznor’s (swear word filled) outburst grabs their attention.

Image via 20minutes.fr