No Porn, Farts Okay, For Windows 7 Phone Apps

REDMOND, Wash.—Steve Jobs leads, everyone else follows, at least when it comes to apps. Still, it might not be a surprise to anyone that with the release this week of Microsoft's Application Certification requirements for Windows Phone 7 developer tools, porn is forbidden. Fart apps are OK, according to Tech Flash, but no porn. Go figure.

Of course, the ban on sexually explicit content dates back to Windows Mobile 6.5 devices, so nothing much has changed. The road to porn riches remains in the hands of Android app developers.

A closer look at the prohibited content lists a swath of restrictions for the Windows Phone Marketplace, not least of which is sexual content.

Sex and nudity are specifically prohibited, including “images that are sexually suggestive or provocative (e.g. sexually provocative touching, bondage, masturbation.” Content that is “generally considered” porn also is prohibited, as is sexual content involving animals or children and anything suggesting prostitution or depicting sexual fetishes.

Somewhat more vaguely, however, the guidelines also prohibit “content that a reasonable person would consider to be adult or borderline adult content (images, text or audio).” Profanity or adult language also is prohibited, but only if it excessive. Not sure what that means.

But Microsoft seems intent to cover its ass … er, butt, with respect to lots of other content. A section on violent content specifically prohibits apps that have “decapitation, impaling, blood splatter/blood spurting/blood pooling, or gore,” guns or weapons that point toward the viewer, exploding body parts and strangulation and choking. They also do not allow people or creatures on fire, or “audio of humans or animals suffering.”

Hate or discriminatory speech also is prohibited, as is any content that is defamatory, libelous, slanderous or threatening, even, apparently, if it is general in nature and not directed at any individual group, person or even ideology.

Apps directed at smokers, drinkers and shooters will also be hard-pressed to find safe ground, as any content that facilitates or promotes the “excessive” use of alcohol or tobacco products, drugs or weapons, “is not allowed on any site/section, regardless of targeting.”

What’s left? A walk in the park, presumably, except that a blade of grass might be disturbed in the process, so even that might get the ax.

The developer guidelines can be read here.