Apple censors NIN iPhone app

Nine Inch Nails' first iPhone app "nin: access" launched a few weeks ago, but was recently rejected for violating the no-obscene/pornographic/offensive/defamatory-content section of the iPhone SDK agreement.

Frontman Trent Reznor explained via tweet:

Apple rejects the NIN iPhone update because it contains objectionable content. The objectionable content referenced is "The Downward Spiral"

Much of that album's lyrics are NSFW, so Apple's position makes sense.

Wait. No it doesn't.

Reznor posted an official rebuttal to the NIN forum. Here's the core of his argument (warning: he drops the f-bomb):

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... Hey Apple, I just got some SPAM about fucking hot asian teens THROUGH YOUR MAIL PROGRAM. I just saw two guys having explicit anal sex right there in Safari! On my iPhone!

Apple: 0
Reznor: 1

[via Pitchfork]

[#1 posted by Mister N, May 4, 2009 9:06 AM]

I was thinking of buying an iPhone. The main reason the apps and I really wanted to try out the NIN app since I thought it was modern and revolutionary.

Now.. I am not sure at all. If Apple is going to regulate the content then there's no way I am locking myself in a 3 year contract and buying their phone.

Nicely done Apple, way to swoosh away your potential customers.

[#2 posted by Anonymous, May 4, 2009 10:14 AM]

I think the untold story is label pressure. Labels don't want artists, whether they have had any business with them or not, bypassing them entirely for distribution. Which is what an application would allow.

The Explicit tag stuff could be a ruse, or simply the automated way apps get flagged and put in limbo.

[#3 posted by phisrow, May 4, 2009 10:16 AM]

Dear Apple,

I want to jailbreak you from the inside.

Love,
Trent

[#4 posted by colonel gentleman, May 4, 2009 11:13 AM]

If Apple isn't careful they are going to lose the vital Hot Topic demographic.

[#5 posted by techdeviant, May 4, 2009 1:05 PM]

@2 lol

@ trent reznor & NIN
Android?

[#6 posted by strider_mt2k, May 4, 2009 1:29 PM]

-just wait until he tries to get paid!

You think he's mad NOW?

[#7 posted by Enochrewt, May 4, 2009 2:17 PM]

I say Reznor should pull his albums from iTunes if he's that upset. Otherwise this is just lip service.

[#8 posted by dimmer, May 4, 2009 7:05 PM]

Ah, poor Apple, painting themselves into such a tiny little corner. Restricting apps based on security issues, platform stability, or other legitimate concerns is one thing; deciding what is filthy and disgusting quite another.

But it may make for good, free advertising...

[#9 posted by zuzu, May 4, 2009 7:24 PM]

(warning: he drops the f-bomb)

"fudge"?

p.s. Rumor has it, this is leading to "parental controls" on the iPhone. Who are these asshat parents who actually want "parental controls" (or "ratings" for television and video games, for that matter). Face it, your kids are smarter than you and will always circumvent your half-assed yet over-bearing "parenting".

[#10 posted by dculberson, May 4, 2009 8:47 PM]

Trent Reznor is kind of hot nowadays. What happened? He used to be a kind of soft dough boy. Saw him in concert and he was freakin' built.

I want to know his secret. I want to be built!

[#11 posted by tuckels, May 5, 2009 12:06 AM]

@ Dculberson
Reznor's 5 Step Plan™ was going to be in the next update of the NIN app. Now it looks like you'll never know...

[#12 posted by Shay, May 5, 2009 1:40 AM]

Just release the up on Cydia.

[#13 posted by hep cat, May 5, 2009 6:31 AM]

I see that "Pee Monkey Toilet Trainer" is the number 3 free app on iTunes just now.

Test your precision peeing skills in a familiar environment: the toilet!

Your task sounds easy: help PeeMonkey pee into the toilet, but there are some complications:
• Due to some medical mystery, PeeMonkey can't stop peeing!
• He's sliding back and forth on a bar of soap at neck-breaking speeds!
• The pee-level in the room is getting dangerously close to that power outlet!

[#14 posted by Downpressor, May 7, 2009 10:39 AM]

Oh shock and horror! One less channel for NiN to peddle teen angst? How will we sleep at night?

[#15 posted by Anonymous, May 7, 2009 11:06 PM]

#14- totally agree. Reznor is just as bad as the "machine" he fights. Props for him releasing online for free - but 96k? At least give us 128k, the internet-recognised minimum bitrate for reasonable quality.

Considering he has so many releases to his name I dont think he really needs the cash for his app. If I were him and wanted to stick it to apple then I would invest in an offshore company that will jailbreak yer iphone and return it to you with his app preloaded. He could still charge if he wanted to and he would be making Apple's life a LOT harder.

My solution - dont buy a iphone, USE A COMPUTER! Who wants a tiny, limited, crap computer in your hand when you can have full control over your powerful and efficient laptop?

Furthermore, Reznor doesnt seem to understand that his songs on itunes COME WITH A PARENTAL ADVISORY WARNING. This is how people know that there are naughty words on it. If apple wants to keep their app store simple by not having to deal with classifications then that is their business (even if I dont agree) and I hope they dont change just so Reznor can see that being a famous rock star means sh*t all and the world is not going to change for his self-rightous ass.

[#16 posted by RadioGuy, May 8, 2009 6:54 AM]

@Enochrewt #7

I say Reznor should pull his albums from iTunes if he's that upset. Otherwise this is just lip service.

I could be wrong on this, but I suspect most of the NIN albums are owned by his former label(s), and their distribution is out of his control.

Are his post-label releases (Ghosts, The Slip) available on iTunes?