Delicious Library iPhone app removed due to Amazon policy change

Mac and iPhone developer Jim Dovey reports that the iPhone version of the popular media cataloguing application Delicious Library has been pulled by the developer after being notified that that the application’s use of Amazon data runs afoul of recent changes to the company’s Product Advertising API license agreement.

Delicious Library

So Amazon recently changed the terms of service for their Product Advertising API, which is in use in applications such as Delicious Library. This is (I believe) the API by which DL gets its book information, and through which it provides links to related items, reviews, etc.

The new license includes this little tidbit in section 4e:

“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.”
Importantly, the restriction applies only to mobile platforms. Delicious Library’s developer, Wil Shipley, contacted Amazon to request permission to continue using the API in the iPhone version of Delicious Library, but was denied.

It remains to be seen whether Amazon will eventually grant an exception to its policies, Shipley will find another source for the necessary data, or if the iPhone version is truly gone for good.

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One Comment to “Delicious Library iPhone app removed due to Amazon policy change”

  1. on 12 Aug 2009 at 12:30 pmSeth

    That seems pretty lame to me. You would think Amazon would be happy that other people are linking to their products, whether it’s on a computer or a mobile device.

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