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Developers don't like being branded as scrapers, as it carries the implication that the service in question is stealing content from others to provide its servi

Developers don't like being branded as scrapers, as it carries the implication that the service in question is stealing content from others to provide its service. The absolute worst thing Instapaper can be accused of is implementing an old-Readability style function that strips pages of non-article content, most frequently ads. By that definition Safari Reader is a scraper, so is AdBlock, Reeder, or any other app that tries to improve on the average abysmal reading environment most websites provide.

kmfrk 14y ago
Does Safari Reader allow storing articles as the re-formatted version rather than as an original bookmark? I think the new-Readability style is contentious, wherein the content is stored re-formatted, whereas the old style was just basic JavaScript, no different from a downloaded GreaseMonkey userstyle.
Kylekramer 14y ago
I am a major fan and paying user of Instapaper and similar services. But how are they not stealing content from others to provide their services? Read it later apps are useless without content. Websites may provide an abysmal reading experience, but it is their property and they can present it as they please. Even if I don't like it and prefer to use Instapaper, it is still theft of a certain kind. So, yes, Instapaper/Safari Reader/Adblock/Reeder are scrapers in my estimation.
- icebraining 14y ago
  Copying, not stealing.
  - Kylekramer 14y ago
    Eh, I hate arguing this point cause I find myself doing it a lot and never really getting anywhere interesting, but here goes. I believe copyright infringement is a subset of stealing. The common definition of stealing is taking something you don't own without permission. The fact that the owner still has a copy is immaterial. Acting like depriving the owner of their copy is a necessary component of stealing is just a remnant of a time where it was much harder to make perfect copy of valuable property. I know the copy vs. steal debate is touchy, but I also feel it is just a distraction from the larger issue.
    - icebraining 14y ago
      In most copyright infringements, the infringers are either sharing what they legally bought and own or accepting something that was shared with them and sharing it themselves. There is never any "taking" involved, for any definition of the word.
REdmanta 14y ago
9to5Mac isn't the first site to describe Instapaper as scraping NyTimes: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/04/magazine/04FOB-medium-t.html?_r=1 https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/04/magazine/04FOB-medium-t.h... Technology Review: http://www.technologyreview.com/view/419326/why-instapaper-will-never-be-booted-from-the/ http://www.technologyreview.com/view/419326/why-instapaper-w... BusinessInsider: http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-09-23/tech/30193029_1_business-insider-instapaper-rss http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-09-23/tech/30193029...

kmfrk 14y ago

Does Safari Reader allow storing articles as the re-formatted version rather than as an original bookmark? I think the new-Readability style is contentious, wherein the content is stored re-formatted, whereas the old style was just basic JavaScript, no different from a downloaded GreaseMonkey userstyle.

Kylekramer 14y ago

I am a major fan and paying user of Instapaper and similar services. But how are they not stealing content from others to provide their services? Read it later apps are useless without content. Websites may provide an abysmal reading experience, but it is their property and they can present it as they please. Even if I don't like it and prefer to use Instapaper, it is still theft of a certain kind. So, yes, Instapaper/Safari Reader/Adblock/Reeder are scrapers in my estimation.

icebraining 14y ago
Copying, not stealing.
- Kylekramer 14y ago
  Eh, I hate arguing this point cause I find myself doing it a lot and never really getting anywhere interesting, but here goes. I believe copyright infringement is a subset of stealing. The common definition of stealing is taking something you don't own without permission. The fact that the owner still has a copy is immaterial. Acting like depriving the owner of their copy is a necessary component of stealing is just a remnant of a time where it was much harder to make perfect copy of valuable property. I know the copy vs. steal debate is touchy, but I also feel it is just a distraction from the larger issue.
  - icebraining 14y ago
    In most copyright infringements, the infringers are either sharing what they legally bought and own or accepting something that was shared with them and sharing it themselves. There is never any "taking" involved, for any definition of the word.

REdmanta 14y ago

9to5Mac isn't the first site to describe Instapaper as scraping NyTimes: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/04/magazine/04FOB-medium-t.html?_r=1 https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/04/magazine/04FOB-medium-t.h... Technology Review: http://www.technologyreview.com/view/419326/why-instapaper-will-never-be-booted-from-the/ http://www.technologyreview.com/view/419326/why-instapaper-w... BusinessInsider: http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-09-23/tech/30193029_1_business-insider-instapaper-rss http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-09-23/tech/30193029...