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I agree, and Pealk definitely admitted as much, that for a startup, relying on an API is incredibly risky. I'd never be on board with a startup that did, no mat

I agree, and Pealk definitely admitted as much, that for a startup, relying on an API is incredibly risky. I'd never be on board with a startup that did, no matter how cool the idea. But LinkedIn doesn't come off looking great either, and I think that was the thrust of the article. It's pretty concerning that they would spend eight weeks talking nice with Pealk, all the while sussing out Pealk's position, and then shut off access with no opportunity to negotiate. What LinkedIn did wasn't illegal, perhaps not even unethical, considering what passes ever-so-vaguely for 'ethical' in the business world these days. But it was, in the strictest definition of the word, crappy.

flatline3 14y ago
I wouldn't even call it crappy. LinkedIn truly didn't owe them anything.
- Jare 14y ago
  In this context, LinkedIn owes them respect and honesty. Bait and switching is crappy behaviour.
  - flatline3 14y ago
    Why? They were abusing LinkedIn's service by competing with them. LinkedIn took the time to speak with them, evaluate the situation, and then make an informed decision about whether they wanted to support their appropriation of LinkedIn's data.
    - davesims 14y ago
      It's crappy human behavior, which is not to say 'bad business practice', to pretend to work with someone and support their efforts for 2 months, and then summarily shut down their business simply because LinkedIn made an 'informed decision' that 'we don't owe you anything.' Let's not confuse the fact that, although businesses certainly have a right to defend their own interests any way they see fit within the law, that has absolutely no bearing on whether or not the community they conduct business in will call them out when they act in a basically unkind or deceptive manner. The former has to do with business, fine print and the dog-eat-dog, watch-your-back world of modern commerce. The latter has to do with basic human decency, trust and the goodwill of the community you do business in. "It's just business" is all well and good, but don't get butt-hurt when the community that you work with looks at your behavior and says, "it sucks that you did it that way." That's just the cost of "doing business," right? Suck it up and take it.
    - antidoh 14y ago
      "They were abusing LinkedIn's service by competing with them." What else would be a worthwhile use of an API?

flatline3 14y ago

I wouldn't even call it crappy. LinkedIn truly didn't owe them anything.

Jare 14y ago
In this context, LinkedIn owes them respect and honesty. Bait and switching is crappy behaviour.
- flatline3 14y ago
  Why? They were abusing LinkedIn's service by competing with them. LinkedIn took the time to speak with them, evaluate the situation, and then make an informed decision about whether they wanted to support their appropriation of LinkedIn's data.
  - davesims 14y ago
    It's crappy human behavior, which is not to say 'bad business practice', to pretend to work with someone and support their efforts for 2 months, and then summarily shut down their business simply because LinkedIn made an 'informed decision' that 'we don't owe you anything.' Let's not confuse the fact that, although businesses certainly have a right to defend their own interests any way they see fit within the law, that has absolutely no bearing on whether or not the community they conduct business in will call them out when they act in a basically unkind or deceptive manner. The former has to do with business, fine print and the dog-eat-dog, watch-your-back world of modern commerce. The latter has to do with basic human decency, trust and the goodwill of the community you do business in. "It's just business" is all well and good, but don't get butt-hurt when the community that you work with looks at your behavior and says, "it sucks that you did it that way." That's just the cost of "doing business," right? Suck it up and take it.
  - antidoh 14y ago
    "They were abusing LinkedIn's service by competing with them." What else would be a worthwhile use of an API?