blogs.zdnet.com — If you've ever wondered what a federal lawsuit from Amazon looks like, here's your chance to see one (see link at bottom of article). This is a pretty good telling of the back-story that had Jeff Bezos squirming in his seat after questions by Tim O'Reilly at the Web 2.0 Expo on Monday.
Apr 18, 2007 View in Crawl 4
dreicherApr 19, 2007
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't he essentially scraping the data from Alexa's site and repurposing it for his site? Why not just use the API's? I understand there is a fee, but if they've made the data available and put the fee restriction on it...Okay, that out of the way...Amazon WTF?
wtf4Apr 19, 2007
For me, the main issue seems to be that "graphs are not a part of Alexa API", so when Alexaholic links to them - Amazon doesn't get paid. I have had similar problems with other companies who usually don't have any problems when sites link to one or two of their images/charts, but if the new business is built around their proprietary data (which they haven't made accessible through API) - that's another issue. If Alexaholic would only access Alexa API and not link directly to graphs, I think there would not be a problem. This is from Hornbaker post (<a class="user" href="http://ronhornbaker.com/alexas-indelicate-handling-of-statsaholic/):">http://ronhornbaker.com/alexas-indelicate-handling-of-statsaholic/):</a>"Why hasn?t Alexa made the graphs part of their official API and charged per request? They?ve done it with their website thumbnail images, and with data, but why not with the graphs? I would be their FIRST CUSTOMER for such a service, as long as it was priced appropriately. I?m already paying them several hundred dollars each month for data, and would gladly pay for graphs. The fact that they haven?t charged for them, and allow any website in the world (except mine) to link to them, says to me that they only mind hotlinking if the hotlinker becomes successful. Which should give every Amazon/Alexa api developer pause for thought."Unfortunately if a Alexa didn't explicitly allow access to the graphs, you can only link to them at your own risk. If Alexa decides to block your access - I think they are totally in their right to do it.
Closed AccountApr 19, 2007
I've spent thousands with Amazon. I really feel bad for Mr Hornbaker and hope things don't turn out bad for him. I've just contact Amazon to tell them where they can stick any future purchases if they go ahead with this nonsense. Plenty more bookstores around.
feralwombatApr 19, 2007
@saigumiHow exactly is IanRReardon wrong? His claim is that it costs Alexa millions to harvest and display the data, and you say that is not true? Just because people voluntarily install a toolbar does not in any way mean there is no cost to Alexa. There are design costs of the toolbar, bandwidth costs, other utility costs, employee costs, storage costs, and much more that are all directly related to harvesting and displaying the data. As for Alexa's actions and the chilling effect it could have on developers, yeah, I agree with you. But let's not argue that the harvesting and displaying do not cost Alexa millions of dollars.
tuzzielApr 19, 2007
@liminaldust I understand your view, but try to imagine you are running your own website, where you carefully collect data or pay for that data, or pay for news feed from real people to create that content, then some other people will come and try to collect that data of yours, harvest and data-mine your information for their own good, e.i.: NewYorkTimesHolics.com, would use NYTimes.com rearanged content with their own advertisement (!?) Is this way of your "innovation"?
sambo357Apr 19, 2007
Whatever McFly. My life improved drastically the day I f**ked one bully up. The next day I let the other one have it too.
fakturistApr 19, 2007
Seriously? You want us all to live in cowardly fear. F that.. we're masters of our own destiny and sometimes the "fight" (regardless of it's outcome) is what truly defines us. You're a coward. Plain and simple..
Closed AccountApr 19, 2007
ok seriously, who uses alexa data at all? i've never understood that. why would i care where my competitors rank in an inaccurate ranking system? not to mention that if your site isnt in the top 10,000, your data is even bigger garbage./rantamazon shouldve just tossed him a few bucks for his work. instead, they want to be bullies.
bobfosterApr 19, 2007
There seems to be a simple answer: boycott the Alexa toolbar until Amazon backs off.