American iPhone Game Censored in Canada

Canadian Standards Agency Labels “Cornhole All-Stars” Vulgar

Toronto, Canada – October 12th, 2009 – American company JUFTi Games is protesting the Canadian Government’s role in censoring the title of the popular US game, Cornhole All-Stars in Canada. JUFTi founders Chuck Hootman and Jon Myers are to protest in Toronto as well as formally lobby the Harper administration to free the word Cornhole from an oppressive embargo.

“Cornhole All-Stars is made for everyday people, and was created by everyday people,” co-creator Hootman said. “That the government in Canada wants to keep us from using the word Cornhole speaks volumes about its priorities – which seem to be limiting freedom of speech and trade between very close neighbors.”

Cornhole All-Stars – the iPhone application that puts the backyard pastime Cornhole in the hands of millions of players – was created to be played anywhere at anytime. In the hopes of freeing Cornhole from censorship, JUFTi has filed formal letters of protest with the Canadian Government and sought guidance from Apple.

JUFTi has experienced a decidedly unhelpful posture from both parties, with the Cupertino camp stating that “Apple does not comment on the development and management of Apps for its App store so we’re unable to provide you with the information you are looking for.”

In the face of such opaque standards, JUFTi has chosen to file formal petitions with both parties. Join the protest.

“We gave Cornhole to the world so that people could share it – regardless of where they live,” said Myers, who is also a co-founder at JUFTi. “We’ve gotten a very warm reception in Japan and Britain, but our closest neighbors have put up a virtual fence.”

Conceived and created by Hootman and Myers, “Cornhole All-Stars” has brought the backyard pastime into the booming tech marketplace, and into the hands of millions. The app is available online (www.cornholeallstars.com) but remains censored in Canada.

“When we conceived Cornhole All Stars, we really wanted to bring down barriers,” Hootman continued. “By creating a version of the game for a handheld device, we were literally giving the game to potentially billions of people. We never thought that another English speaking country could present such a semantic hurdle.”

At issue are seemingly arbitrary Canadian Government standards and a lack of consistency throughout the Apple App Store. Apple oversees all products sold on its ‘shelves,’ often assuming the standards of localities in which it operates. The Canadian Government labeled the word Cornhole offensive, mandating that it be represented by a “C******e” in the App Store, and effectively placing a trade embargo on Cornhole All-Stars in the country.

“We want Canada to free Cornhole and lift these harsh sanctions. We demand that the Harper regime free Cornhole,” Myers said. “This is not just about a word. This protest, this issue, is about a country, and the people’s ability to speak freely, intelligently, and in terms that some may not be entirely comfortable with.”

In addition to the Apple App Store, JUFTi uses Facebook for social networking, allowing members to log in to their account to tally points on their profiles and rack up awards in the All-Stars Trophy Room.

“That the government in Canada, or the Apple App Store for that matter, thinks they can censor one word to halt a social movement is laughable,” Hootman continued. “We are here to ask the government what their real motivation is – free society where information can be had by those who seek it, or gag orders and unfair embargos on people who want open dialog.”

“We didn’t create a game to go into battle,” Myers said. “But we’re willing to take on a meaningful fight if we can win a war.”

About JUFTi Games
Driven by a philosophy to create casual and social games offering the ultimate in multi-user experience, JUFTi Games is based in Columbus, Ohio. Created by Jon Myers and Chuck Hootman, Cornhole All-Stars is the first of many of JUFTi’s revolutionary iPhone applications and games. JUFTi – Games for the Common Good.
Press Contact:

Jon Myers (917-855-5834)

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