Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2009/09/08/c64_app_store_no_show/

Apple yanks C64 emulator from App Store

BASIC misunderstanding

By Tony Smith

Posted in Personal Tech, 8th September 2009 13:27 GMT

Many Register readers seeking the Commodore 64 emulator application for the iPhone, which finally made it to Apple's App Store yesterday, were disappointed not to be able to find it. Here's why: Apple pulled it.

Apple originally rejected the emulator, called simply C64, some months ago. Developer Manomio appealed against the decision, which was apparently made because the software included a Commodore Basic interpreter.

Apple's logic was that this tool could allow users to run illegal copies of games, holding it open to a charge of contributory copyright infringement. Anything that might do so is verboten under the terms of the iPhone OS SDK.

Manomio responded by promising to remove the Basic interpreter. Honour apparently satisifed, Apple let C64 through.

And then it found that Manomio hadn't yanked the interpreter, it had simply tucked it out of sight.

Silly notion, that. As if emulator users wouldn't work out how to activate the code. As if they would keep it to themselves.

They didn't. They told World+Dog about it. And Apple duly pulled C64 off the App Store's virtual shelves.

Manomio said: "We have now fixed the issue and our application has been re-submitted for approval by Apple."

It's not clear whether the Basic interpreter has been removed, or Manomio has simply deleted the discovered way of activating it.

Will Apple relent? We'll let you know when it does. ®