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Aside from a general PSA, who cares? Here are the TOS https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSezNdDNK1-P8mspSbmtC2r86Ee9ZRbC66u929cG2GX0T9UMyw/viewform https:

Aside from a general PSA, who cares? Here are the TOS https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSezNdDNK1-P8mspSbmtC2r86Ee9ZRbC66u929cG2GX0T9UMyw/viewform https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSezNdDNK1-P8mspSbmt... the consequences are basically limited to them disabling API access until compliance is restored. Rules don't exist if there aren't consequences.

pretendscholar 9y ago
It's polite to follow the rules when you build on top of someone else's work.
- derptron 9y ago
  Reddit doesn't follow their own rules half the time.
saurik 9y ago
I don't know why the API terms of service were even brought up: this is obviously trademark violation. Those API terms of service are just there to give them some more immediate consequences without having to serve ISPs with legal notices and potentially go to court, as well as to leave more of a paper trail to show that the existence of their API is not them condoning people violating their trademarks. It just really isn't that difficult for people to respect trademarks: we should not have sympathy for violations that are this blatant. HN should really not even be leaving it up, and they could themselves be served with notice (and yes: I realize that YCombinator invested in reddit; the result would just be some request in the backend); their strong and intrusive content moderation policy means they don't have any argument that "this was just user information". (And if anyone from reddit is digging for examples of consumer confusion: when I saw "Reddit Grid" as I scrolled by, I absolutely had a first reaction of "oh, reddit is releasing a new feature to improve browsing? cool!" before remembering "oh yeah, people tend to be shitty about respecting trademarks, so watch this just be someone who wanted that official-sounding connotation".)
- epenance 9y ago
  I honestly don't mind changing the name or whatever if Reddit has anything against the name, just wanted to pick up a name someone would remember, and my initial ideas had the domain taken.
rightos 9y ago
And even if they do just steal an API key from a mobile app or two. The bigger risk is that they'll come after you for using their trademark, but there's some PR risk to that too...
- blurryoutside 9y ago
  > And even if they do just steal an API key from a mobile app or two. How does this work?
  - rightos 9y ago
    Mobile apps have the advantage of not being restricted to access on a single IP. So using their keys is often as simple as digging it out of the appropriate binary. Android and iOS make it quite simple to grab the relevant APK or IPA packages as needed, then you just load that package into the appropriate decompiler or disassembler, look for strings first as often API keys are just left in as hardcoded strings. It's not a recommended strategy if you want to be legitimate, but if you're going rogue anyways, may as well go all the way.
kevin_thibedeau 9y ago
> who cares? Their lawyers care about trademark violations that dilute their brand.
- ringaroundthetx 9y ago
  sure in OPs case maybe, but I was referring to how you can just as easily use the API without mentioning reddit at all, which would also be in violation of their TOS wouldn't be a trademark issue in that case, can you try your rebuttal again

pretendscholar 9y ago

It's polite to follow the rules when you build on top of someone else's work.

derptron 9y ago
Reddit doesn't follow their own rules half the time.

saurik 9y ago

I don't know why the API terms of service were even brought up: this is obviously trademark violation. Those API terms of service are just there to give them some more immediate consequences without having to serve ISPs with legal notices and potentially go to court, as well as to leave more of a paper trail to show that the existence of their API is not them condoning people violating their trademarks. It just really isn't that difficult for people to respect trademarks: we should not have sympathy for violations that are this blatant. HN should really not even be leaving it up, and they could themselves be served with notice (and yes: I realize that YCombinator invested in reddit; the result would just be some request in the backend); their strong and intrusive content moderation policy means they don't have any argument that "this was just user information". (And if anyone from reddit is digging for examples of consumer confusion: when I saw "Reddit Grid" as I scrolled by, I absolutely had a first reaction of "oh, reddit is releasing a new feature to improve browsing? cool!" before remembering "oh yeah, people tend to be shitty about respecting trademarks, so watch this just be someone who wanted that official-sounding connotation".)

epenance 9y ago
I honestly don't mind changing the name or whatever if Reddit has anything against the name, just wanted to pick up a name someone would remember, and my initial ideas had the domain taken.

rightos 9y ago

And even if they do just steal an API key from a mobile app or two. The bigger risk is that they'll come after you for using their trademark, but there's some PR risk to that too...

blurryoutside 9y ago
> And even if they do just steal an API key from a mobile app or two. How does this work?
- rightos 9y ago
  Mobile apps have the advantage of not being restricted to access on a single IP. So using their keys is often as simple as digging it out of the appropriate binary. Android and iOS make it quite simple to grab the relevant APK or IPA packages as needed, then you just load that package into the appropriate decompiler or disassembler, look for strings first as often API keys are just left in as hardcoded strings. It's not a recommended strategy if you want to be legitimate, but if you're going rogue anyways, may as well go all the way.

kevin_thibedeau 9y ago

> who cares? Their lawyers care about trademark violations that dilute their brand.

ringaroundthetx 9y ago
sure in OPs case maybe, but I was referring to how you can just as easily use the API without mentioning reddit at all, which would also be in violation of their TOS wouldn't be a trademark issue in that case, can you try your rebuttal again