For awhile when apps were kicked off of the App Store, no one had any idea why, at least until several days following their removal. But one developer just received an email that indicates apps need to serve a purpose or perform a significant enough function to be accepted to the App Store.

Check out the full letter after the cut.

“Hello Developer,

We’ve reviewed your application Pull My Finger. We have determined that this application is of limited utility to the broad iPhone and iPod touch user community, and will not be published to the App Store.

It may be very appropriate to share with friends and family, and we recommend you review the Ad Hoc method on the Distribution tab of the iPhone Developer Portal for details on distributing this application among a small group of people of your choosing.

Regards,

Victor Wang
Worldwide Developer Relations
Apple, Inc.”

Kind of a strange way to monitor which apps are accepted and which ones aren’t, don’t you think? Could fall into a potential censorship area maybe. We’ll have to see how that works.

[via MacRumors]