Apple puts roadblock in way of selling digital magazines on iTunes

Wired magazine is reporting that Apple has amended the conditions of its terms of service for iTunes software that, in effect, would make it impossible for users to buy digital or "in-app" subscriptions to magazines. 

Apple prohibits the gifting of “in-app purchases, in-app subscriptions, [and] upgrades” which means you can’t buy someone virtual goods within an iPhone or iPad app. So you won’t be able to buy a friend an in-app subscription to Wired magazine for the iPad, for example, like how you can with the print edition.

That news should be a little disappointing for publishers hailing the iPad as the future of magazines, because gift subscriptions have been an effective method to lure in new print subscribers.