April 26, 2010

New York Times
On the heels of the rejection, reconsideration and then acceptance of Pulitzer-winning cartoonist Mark Fiore’s NewsToons app, editorial cartoonists are asking Apple to reconsider its policies.

Brian Stelter reports that the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists has sent a letter to Apple CEO Steve Jobs suggesting that the company adapt its policies as its influence over content distribution grows:

“The association called on Apple to change its stance toward the sort of apps that its members are creating. ‘Apple’s policy forbidding ridicule of public figures effectively bans all political cartoons and satire from the iPhone and iPad,’ the letter stated.”

Apple’s restrictive content policies have recently come under fire on several fronts, including a group of German publishers who accuse Apple of arbitrary censorship.

> Fiore’s iPad Rejection Harbinger of Bigger Story (Mediactive)
> It’s Time for the Press to Push Back Against Apple (CJR)
> Apple: You Can Ridicule Obama, but Don’t Bash Tiger Woods (Daryl Cagle’s Cartoon Web Log)

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