5 ms·

One of my favorite ToS items is from LinkedIn: You aren't allowed to "deep-link to our sites for any purpose, (i.e. creating or posting a link to a LinkedIn web

One of my favorite ToS items is from LinkedIn: You aren't allowed to "deep-link to our sites for any purpose, (i.e. creating or posting a link to a LinkedIn web page other than LinkedIn’s home page)".[1] The act of linking to a publicly available website is against that website's terms. [1]https://www.linkedin.com/legal/user-agreement https://www.linkedin.com/legal/user-agreement

snlacks 12y ago
What if they find out that you just linked to a "deep-link?" Seriously though, is it made unenforceable when the usage by both parties (linkedin and users) actually encourage this? (Share this on facebook!) It sounds like a "catch-all" "don't like you" clause.
- chc 12y ago
  "Share this on Facebook" sounds like written approval for a link to me.
- subb 12y ago
  My guess is it's to prevent "copycat" websites like those for stackoverflow.
  - chc 12y ago
    What does deep linking have to do with copying a site's content?
- Zikes 12y ago
  https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/07/weevs-case-flawed-beginning-end https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/07/weevs-case-flawed-begi... At least one person has been imprisoned for exactly that.
  - roghummal 12y ago
    But he was a hacker, not some commenter on hacke--er... hm.
RKearney 12y ago
You seemed to have cut off an important part of that clause. 10.2. Don’t undertake the following: 17 Deep-link to our sites for any purpose, (i.e. creating or posting a link to a LinkedIn web page other than LinkedIn’s home page) unless expressly authorized in writing by LinkedIn or for the purpose of promoting your profile or a Group on LinkedIn as set forth in the Brand Guidelines[0]; You can link to your own profile or group to promote it. While still silly, it is in no way as limiting as you made it out to be. [0]https://developer.linkedin.com/documents/branding-guidelines https://developer.linkedin.com/documents/branding-guidelines
- Natsu 12y ago
  The idea that they're allowed to restrict it at all is inherently silly, though. I mean, as written, it seems to imply that I may not link to anyone else's profile... I consider that kind of restriction inherently unconsionable, regardless of the nature of the parties involved. EDIT: I should also note that you appear to be violating them in your post, as I did not see an exception for such pages as that, though "deep linking" is one of those vague things that means whatever they want it to mean. Anything but the home page can be argued to be "deep" but different people have very different ideas on the subject and there's no inherent or technological meaning behind how deep a link must be before being considered a "deep link." So they don't even give you proper notice of which links they do and do not forbid. So not only is it dumb in general, it's vague enough to make every link not pre-approved by Linked-In suspect, which is something I would object to for that very reason.
xorcist 12y ago
I hope they terminated your account for that flagrant breach of your service agreement made in your post!

snlacks 12y ago

What if they find out that you just linked to a "deep-link?" Seriously though, is it made unenforceable when the usage by both parties (linkedin and users) actually encourage this? (Share this on facebook!) It sounds like a "catch-all" "don't like you" clause.

chc 12y ago
"Share this on Facebook" sounds like written approval for a link to me.
subb 12y ago
My guess is it's to prevent "copycat" websites like those for stackoverflow.
- chc 12y ago
  What does deep linking have to do with copying a site's content?
Zikes 12y ago
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/07/weevs-case-flawed-beginning-end https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/07/weevs-case-flawed-begi... At least one person has been imprisoned for exactly that.
- roghummal 12y ago
  But he was a hacker, not some commenter on hacke--er... hm.

RKearney 12y ago

You seemed to have cut off an important part of that clause. 10.2. Don’t undertake the following: 17 Deep-link to our sites for any purpose, (i.e. creating or posting a link to a LinkedIn web page other than LinkedIn’s home page) unless expressly authorized in writing by LinkedIn or for the purpose of promoting your profile or a Group on LinkedIn as set forth in the Brand Guidelines[0]; You can link to your own profile or group to promote it. While still silly, it is in no way as limiting as you made it out to be. [0]https://developer.linkedin.com/documents/branding-guidelines https://developer.linkedin.com/documents/branding-guidelines

Natsu 12y ago
The idea that they're allowed to restrict it at all is inherently silly, though. I mean, as written, it seems to imply that I may not link to anyone else's profile... I consider that kind of restriction inherently unconsionable, regardless of the nature of the parties involved. EDIT: I should also note that you appear to be violating them in your post, as I did not see an exception for such pages as that, though "deep linking" is one of those vague things that means whatever they want it to mean. Anything but the home page can be argued to be "deep" but different people have very different ideas on the subject and there's no inherent or technological meaning behind how deep a link must be before being considered a "deep link." So they don't even give you proper notice of which links they do and do not forbid. So not only is it dumb in general, it's vague enough to make every link not pre-approved by Linked-In suspect, which is something I would object to for that very reason.

xorcist 12y ago

I hope they terminated your account for that flagrant breach of your service agreement made in your post!