The uncensored version of Playboy magazine will soon be available for the iPad and will be sold through Apple's app store. Hugh Hefner reported this news on twitter today.

The introduction of a Playboy app is remarkable because Apple is known for its rigorous policy for admission of applications to their app store. Playboy’s app is particularly noteworthy because it will be uncensored. Apple has so far strongly resisted allowing nudity and adult content in their app store.

For example, the Danish tabloid newspaper Ekstra Bladet threatened to sue Apple for refusing to allow the digital edition of their newspaper to the app store. Traditionally, their is a topless model on page 9 of Ekstra Bladet and Apple finds this offensive.

Earlier in the Netherlands, Viva had to remove their Anybody columns from the iPad version of the magazine. This in an editorial section where women show and discuss their own naked body. Mr. Hefner ensures that the Playboy app will be a complete and uncensored version of the magazine and that he expects it to be available for iPads in March. Playboy will also offer digital copies of older magazines. 

It seems that Apple's admission policy of the app store is becoming slightly milder. This is sensible, since the company is under attack from various angles, for their powerful market position.

Poul Madsen of Ekstra Bladet is one of the critics and does not hesitate to give his opinion on the unfair and double standards that Apple uses, in his view. "Until now. Apple was so arrogant to ignore all of our requests. That will change as soon as we threaten to bring this case to the European Court, " said Madsen.

His colleague Hugh Hefner of Playboy, however, does not seem frustrated with Apple at all. He came to an agreement with the California based firm, as he reports on twitter.

Nonetheless, the iPad adventure remains a risky investment. Earlier this week we reported that the sale of magazine applications for the iPad is stalling, both in the U.S. and the Netherlands. Publishers have to improve business cases for their iPad apps, as they seemingly fail to bring enough added value compared to the existing paper and digital alternatives. Many iPad subscribers are dropping out because the digital magazines are quite expensive and do not really offer anything extra compared to paper.

Perhaps a good advice to Mr. Hefner is to decorate his digital Playboy with some short movies that are made exclusively for iPad customers. That way, he can certainly preserve the attention of his audience and provide sufficient additional value online, compared to the classic paper edition of Playboy.

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