Amazon’s APIs Off Limits

Amazon has changed the terms of service. Again. This time, the rules surrounding its popular data APIs have made it so that it is no longer possible to access Amazon data from any mobile devices. Perhaps the oddest element of these new TOS, not only are mobile apps barred access to the APIs, they can’t even use data from the APIs if the actual access is done with a desktop app. The relevant line of the TOS, section 4e, reads: “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.”

For now, it would seem that mobile apps that want to access Amazon’s APIs are simply dead in the water.