It seems Microsoft have gone on a censorship bender with the Windows Phone 7 and the Windows Phone Marketplace. The latest version of the Windows Phone Marketplace guidelines has been revealed and it seems there will be no nonsense from Microsoft's upcoming OS.
The Windows Phone Marketplace seems to be taking a leaf out of the iTunes App Store's book with app reviewers who are kept on the look out for and to reject/remove apps which break any of their new guidelines.
Well lets get a little look into what isn't allowed. Starting with the most obvious I guess, we have: "Not allowed: sex/nudity - images that are sexually suggestive or provocative." Which is then backed up by plenty of references to nipples, pubic hair and breasts so that developers know what they can and can't include which is then backed up by: "Not allowed: content that a reasonable person would consider to be adult or borderline adult content."
However, it seems pornographic images isn't all Microsoft is denying the app using public. Violence is also being quite heavily censored (presumably this is all to do with video games): "Not allowed: realistic or gratuitous violence, including depictions of"¦decapitation, impaling, blood splatter/blood spurting/blood pooling"¦guns/weapons pointed towards user/audience." Which is pretty harsh, although it's likely the more successful 'violent' games may be overlooked.
One of the funnier censorships however is one which doesn't allow the showing of the competition. "If an application depicts any mobile or wired telephone, handheld PDA or any other data and voice communicator, it must be either generic or a Windows Phonw device." It seems Microsoft are a little sore about how the iPhone's design is usually seen as a generic smartphone look, however this censorship is pretty funny.
So what do you think of all these censorship changes for the Windows Phone Marketplace? Is Microsoft being too sensitive or are some of their restrictions justified? Should they use other measures to restrict adult content instead of just banning it altogether? Leave your thoughts below.
If you’re a mobile developer wanting to take a stab at developing an app or game for the Windows Phone 7 platform then download the Windows Phone 7 Developers Kit Beta Version.
Via: Electric Pig
To find out more about the Windows Phone 7 SDK visit the Windows Phone Developer Blog here or download the free version here.