This week, Melinda Beasi at Manga Bookshelf took some time to examine how Apple handles adult content in their iOS App Store. Beasi opened her article by recalling past concerns over how Apple has handled LGBTQ content, rejecting mild sexual LGBTQ content while allowing similar heterosexual content, seemingly without reservation. Apple has since embraced LGBTQ publishers, but Beasi’s article indicates that LGBTQ material may still be singled out by Apple, affecting manga publishers in particular.
PayPal Threatens Deactivation of Publishers’ Accounts Over Erotic Content
Starting February 18, PayPal began contacting independent e-book publishers about new policies regarding erotic content. PayPal told publishers that they cannot sell erotic material that depicts incest, pseudo-incest, rape fantasies, bestiality (including non-human fantasy characters), and BDSM. Selling these materials will result in the deactivation of the publishers’ PayPal accounts. As a result of PayPal’s new policy, many publishers are taking down erotic work.
More after the jump…
Image Expo Was A Shining Success For CBLDF!

Last weekend, the CBLDF was in Oakland, CA, exhibiting at Image Expo, a celebration of creator-owned comics commemorating the 20th anniversary of Image Comics. CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein and CBLDF.org editor Betsy Gomez were there representing the Fund and got to meet a lot of our members and supporters, who generously contributed more than $4,000 to our important legal work over the course of the weekend. Brownstein takes you through the Image Expo experience after the jump!
One Million Moms Targets Toys “R” Us Over LIFE WITH ARCHIE #16
One Million Moms — a division of the American Family Association, a conservative non-profit organization that “promotes traditional family values” — recently made news over their boycott of retailer JC Penney over hiring lesbian TV host Ellen DeGeneres as a spokesperson. They are in the news again with recent reports that they will be boycotting Toys “R” Us over the display and sale of Life with Archie #16, which features the marriage of openly gay character Kevin Keller.
CBLDF Attends MangaNext
Over the past weekend, while half of the CBLDF staff was on the West Coast on the floor at Image Expo, the other half made the arduous trek through the Lincoln Tunnel, all the way out to Northern New Jersey, to spend some time at MangaNext, one of the only completely fan-run manga shows in the country.
Find out more about this fantastic show after the jump!
Latest Round of Ultimate Comics’ Muppet Auctions Include Sketches from Christian Slade, Roger Langridge, and More!
We announced Ultimate Comics’ The Muppet Show #1 sketch variant cover auctions just last week, and an all-new new round of nine covers just went up!
Click through for a sneak peek or head over to Ultimate Comics’ eBay page to view all of the covers and bid on your favorite sketch! Proceeds from the auction benefit CBLDF’s important work in defense of the First Amendment!