This should come as no surprise. All Startups that are using "legitimate" means to get data (e.g. via APIs) are at risk. The API provider can block you at any time. Here are other examples:
- In May 2006, Ebay blocked Rapleaf's attempt at making seller reputations portable. Rapleaf was using Ebay's API.
- In 1999, UPS and FedEx blocked all companies that were using their APIs to display and transact best shipping methods. All of those startups were using UPS and FedEx API. This happened again in Jan 2006, when UPS blocked www.simpletracking.com and once again in late 2006, when UPS and FedEx blocked startup www.RedRoller.com Their website is still up, but without UPS and FedEx in there, it's evident that they are dying. Once again, RedRoller was using FedEx and UPS API.
- Startups using Google API are subject to the same issue..Google will block you as soon as you come in their radar screen.
...so if you are planning to use APIs, figure out your plan B in advance!
You would hope that companies would start to realize the advantage they gain from everyone using their api. Especially apis that embed their brand (and potentially ads) in other peoples pages. There are a lot reasons for api providers not to pull nonsense like this. Amazon clearly does not look very good here.
But ultimately, yeah, there's always some risk when you run off an api you don't control.
