Apple rejects uTorrent monitor app

Argues it would be used to infringe copyright

2 September 2009 10:59 GMT / By Duncan Geere

Apple has rejected an application that would allow users to control their Bittorrent downloads on their home computer from their iPhone. The reason? Because Bittorrent is "often used for the purpose of infringing third party rights".

Developer Claudio was told after a 4-month wait: "We've reviewed uMonitor and determined that we cannot post this version of your application to the App Store at this time because this category of applications is often used for the purpose of infringing third party rights. We have chosen to not publish this type of application to the App Store".

The move shows that Bittorrent technology has a long way to go before it's able to shake off its association with piracy through websites like the Pirate Bay, Mininova and Demonoid. Although there are many legitimate uses for the technology, for most people the name brings up images of ultra-quick downloads of leaked movies and albums.

Other methods used by pirates, like Usenet, seem to be fair game in the app store - an application called myNZB is similar in functionality to rejected Bittorrent applications, but is freely available. And of course, the rejection of the app has had the opposite effect desired - the developer is now actively encouraging users to jailbreak their iPhones, and providing links to exactly how to do that on his website.

An Android application is already available that assists pirates by allowing users to scan barcodes in shops, of a movie for example, and then it'll automatically begin downloading that film from filesharing sites.