At first, Apple rejected an iPhone application because it competed with them. Next, Apple rejected an app because it duplicated functionality. Yesterday, it was revealed that the contents of Apple’s rejection letter falls under the NDA so that iPhone developers can’t publicly complain about the vagueness of Apple’s decision process. It’s all very unwise.

Apple’s opaqueness about the whole App Store publishing process and the rules has gotten out of hand. The feeling in the community is that legal action is the next step, but not just by developers. The actions of Apple could soon result in scrutiny by the government.

Worse, the whole issue is smoldering on the Internet as people who thought that because Apple was a charming company with excellent products it wouldn’t abuse its power.

It’s gotten so bad that irony and sarcasm are bubbling up. Many Apple customers and writers are extremely experienced at poking fun at Microsoft. If that collective talent gets turned on Apple, the results will get ugly, and soon that atmosphere will degenerate into bitterness and internecine warfare.

Wil Shipley, a software author for the Delicious Monster, wrote on Monday: "I have to be clear: it simply will not stand for Apple to prevent applications on the iPhone from competing with Apple’s own applications. Besides chasing away all decent developers, besides hurting their customers by stifling competition and innovation, besides it simply being evil, it will, shortly, be illegal."

One of my observations in life is that no one changes strong personal convictions except by the influence of someone considered a social superior. Equals and inferiors don’t make the cut. In this unfortunate case, that socially superior person may have to be a federal judge.