Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, App Store
Delicious Library for iPhone runs afoul of Amazon's API terms, pulled from App Store
Update: As one might expect, this API restriction has also hit Pocketpedia; the app is now pulled as well (as of 7/17).Sudden removal of an item from the App Store isn't unheard of; sometimes an app has a hidden bug or a content problem, and if Apple hasn't seen fit to take it off the store shelves then the developer can take matters into his, her or its own hands. Even applications that would seem to be wholly gratuitous and obvious ripoffs of other companies' IP might make it past the first round of Apple's scrutiny, only to be abruptly pulled under threat of litigation.
This all brings us to Scenario D: the 'D' is for Delicious, and it's Delicious Monster's iPhone version of Library that's undergoing an unwelcome and rapid yanking from the App Store -- and believe it or not, Apple has nothing to do with it. Earlier today, Head Monster Wil Shipley announced that the iPhone app is on indefinite suspension and is no longer for sale; this is the consequence of a particular clause in the Amazon API terms and conditions. Part 4(e) of Amazon's agreement, which Shipley is a party to due to the desktop DL app's reliance on Amazon for book and DVD data, reads as follows:
(e) You will not, without our express prior written approval requested via this link , use any Product Advertising Content on or in connection with any site or application designed or intended for use with a mobile phone or other handheld device.Amazon gave D-M an ultimatum: pull the iPhone app, or lose the API access for the desktop version of Library. Despite Shipley's requests for a mobile device exception, the big A did not relent. It's not 100% clear why Amazon chose to enforce this clause now, nor why the company is not providing exceptions to developers. We have an email in to their press office to inquire.
If you've got DL on your iPhone already, enjoy. If not... it could be a long wait.
Anvil photo from flickr: fboyd and remixed via CC license.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
K said 5:12PM on 7-07-2009
I wonder if he can source the data elsewhere for the apps?
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kc! said 5:14PM on 7-07-2009
This is TERRIBLE news. Especially terrible since Delicious Monster (and Wil Shipley) both go above and beyond the call to make things fantastic and play nicely. For amazon to not recognize this and rule with such an iron fist makes me very unhappy.
Also, what is so different about the mobile platform that an app can access their API from a desktop, but not an iPhone?
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Look said 5:15PM on 7-07-2009
Delicious Library is a dead company anyway...They never recoverd from Mike Matas departure a few years ago.
Also, the design/website is still the same as it was 5 years ago!!! I guess that that's what happene when you confuse a Coffee Shop for an office☺
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brandon said 5:19PM on 7-07-2009
Look: I totally agree. Delicious Monster/Library is probably one of the most over-rated software companies/titles. I don't like to hear about software being yanked, but at the same time, it wasn't adding much functionality overall, anyway...
Steven Fisher said 5:21PM on 7-07-2009
One of the things I've heard in all of this is that this rule is new since Shipley started work on Delicious Library for iPhone. Anyone know if this is true?
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Cory Imdieke said 5:34PM on 7-07-2009
This isn't new, I emailed Amazon when the SDK was very first released in Beta (before 2.0 was even out officially) about getting access to the API for an iPhone App and they sent me a response saying that they were not allowing any mobile devices access to the API. It was in the license then and it's still in it now. Frankly I'm surprised that such a company didn't bother to read the agreement before using it in a commercial application...
Steven Fisher said 6:13PM on 7-07-2009
Delicious Library dates back to 2004. I'm sure he read the agreement then, and I doubt there was any such clause. But yeah, he should have read it again.
Information Central said 7:05AM on 7-09-2009
It's an idiotic move that betrays a lot of ignorance on Amazon's part. There are Web sites out there that use Amazon data, and those sites are fully accessible from mobile devices.
What are ya gonna do about that, nitwits?
Noah said 5:22PM on 7-07-2009
Isn't the notion of forbidding your API from "hand held devices" getting arbitrary. You have tiny netbooks and powerful handhelds (iPhone) and in the middle you have pseudo hand helds/pseudo netbooks like the kindle. Can YOU define the difference in a consistent way?
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Brian said 6:58PM on 7-07-2009
Indeed, very true. I hand hold my 17" laptop when I walk about the house and my iPhone sits on a desktop stand when I use it.
Steven Fisher said 11:17PM on 7-07-2009
It's probably related to a patent that someone other than Amazon holds. Amazon is sued for patent infringement on the slimmest of excuses.
Matt said 5:32PM on 7-07-2009
I switched to Bruji a few years ago when Delicious Lib 2 was taking forever and haven't looked back.
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DJFriar said 5:49PM on 7-07-2009
I try to support Wil and like his insight as a developer. But I, too, switched to Bruji and am much happier.
Grant said 6:34PM on 7-07-2009
I'd switch to Bruji too if I didn't have to pay $72 to get 4 programs to have the functionality that I currently get with DL2 for $40 with 1 app.
Eater Alumn said 6:40PM on 7-07-2009
The full bundle is only $49. http://www.bruji.com/bundles.html
K said 7:01PM on 7-07-2009
It looks so plain compared to DL.
LD said 10:35PM on 7-07-2009
K, perhaps some of the user-contributed skins are more to your liking.
http://www.bruji.com/extras/
It may look plain to you, but I doubt you've actually tried it because it's quite flexible and much more powerful.
Mathieu said 5:35PM on 7-07-2009
We were using the Amazon API in our next iPhone app about to be released. I guess now we’ll have to stick with the iTunes API only. Too bad for our users, and for Amazon.
I hope those big limitations coming from big ones like Amazon, Twitter are going to stop, or developers will have a hard time developing appealing applications that uses 3rd party API’s.
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Fred said 5:35PM on 7-07-2009
Amazon version of this app in 3...2...1...
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rainless said 5:52PM on 7-07-2009
"ferinstance"? Seriously?
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