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iPhone application "offensive," says Italy's tourism minister
Sep 28, 2010, 16:05 GMT
Rome - Italian Tourism Minister Michela Vittoria Brambilla on Tuesday threatened legal action against the manufacturers of an iPhone download application in which Italy is described as a country of 'pizza, mafia, pasta, scooters.'
'Italy is a beacon in the world for its history, culture and style and as a citizen and minister I cannot allow that our country is discredited by the use of a criminal organisation as its testimonial,' Brambilla said in a statement.
Brambilla said she would ask iPhone manufacturer Apple to remove the What Country application from its iTunes online store.
The minister said she had also instructed Italian prosecutors to 'proceed through the appropriate channels against those responsible.'
According to the iTunes website, the What Country application is made by Apalon, a Belarus-based mobile application and game development company.
The application is described on the iTunes website as 'a light- hearted and funny view of the world.'
'This is not a travel guide and should not be taken too seriously,' it goes on to say. 'Enjoy and have fun!'
The application, which sells for 0.99 dollars, also covers several other countries. Germany, for instance, is described with the tag line 'beer, discipline, autobahns.'
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