Apple changes position on Kama Sutra ebook iPhone app

By Steven Musil on 26 May 2009, 10:23am

Rectifying yet another App Store bungle, Apple has had a change of heart and decided to allow an iPhone app that offered access to the Kama Sutra.

Apple on Thursday notified the developer of Eucalyptus that it had rejected the ebook reader app because it deemed the content available "objectionable". As it does with all books available through the app, Eucalyptus downloads a text-only version of the ancient Indian book on sexuality from Project Gutenberg, a volunteer effort to digitise important cultural works.

The Kama Sutra does not come installed on the app -- as with any book title, users must search for the book and download it. The baffling thing in this case is that the book is available on the iPhone using other ebook readers available on the App Store.

Then early on Sunday, Apple changed its position and accepted the app after discussions with Eucalyptus developer James Montgomerie, the developer wrote on his blog:

"Earlier today I received a phone call from an Apple representative. He was very complimentary about Eucalyptus. We talked about the confusion surrounding its App Store rejections, which I am happy to say is now fully resolved. He invited me to re-build and submit a version of Eucalyptus with no filters for immediate approval, and that full version is now available on the iPhone App Store."

When the App Store was announced in March 2008, Apple said it would vet every single application submitted to the App Store and approve or reject applications based on the company's internal standards. To say Apple has a mixed record on apps that win approval would be an understatement, with a seemingly arbitrary and opaque process approving the widely condemned Baby Shaker app but banning a Twitter Trends app that included swear words.