Apple rejects Nine Inch Nails app update

Another iPhone application has run afoul of Apple's mysterious approval policies--this time, it's an update to the official Nine Inch Nails app developed in conjunction with the pioneering industrial music group's frontman Trent Reznor. First introduced in April, the NIN app features music, photos, videos, message boards and even a GPS-based friend finder service; Apple approved the application in its original incarnation, but rejected a recent update on the grounds it contains "objectionable content," specifically the Nine Inch Nails song "The Downward Spiral." In an email sent to NIN and posted on the band's website, Apple writes "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 judgment may be found objectionable by iPhone or iPod touch users."

In response to Apple's decision, Reznor posted the following: "I'll voice the same issue I had with Wal-Mart years ago, which is a matter of consistency and hypocrisy. Wal-Mart went on a rampage years ago insisting all music they carry be censored of all profanity and ‘clean' versions be made for them to carry. Bands (including Nirvana) tripped over themselves editing out words, changing album art, etc to meet Wal-Mart's standards of decency--because Wal-Mart sells a lot of records. NIN refused, and you'll notice a pretty empty NIN section at any Wal-Mart. My reasoning was this: I can understand if you want the moral posturing of not having any ‘indecent' material for sale--but you could literally turn around 180 degrees from where the NIN record would be and purchase the film Scarface completely uncensored, or buy a copy of Grand Theft Auto where you can be rewarded for beating up prostitutes. How does that make sense? You can buy ‘The Downward ****ing Spiral' on iTunes, but you can't allow an iPhone app that may have a song with a bad word somewhere in it."

The flap recalls the recent controversy over Apple's decision to block a South Park application developed for the iPhone under the supervision of the animated comedy's creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, contending that the app content is "potentially offensive" even though iTunes continues to offer full-length episodes of the series for premium download.

For more on the Apple/NIN controversy:
- read this Engadget article

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