Blizzard releases third-party API usage policy

The third-party API usage policy has a lot in common with Blizzard's addon creation and usage policy. No premium applications or web tools that use WoW API data are allowed, which means you will not be able to be charged for access to information that is freely given. App creators will also not be able to put commercials or advertisements inside of applications that hinder the use of the application and data. Developers will, however, be able to host these apps or web tools on hosting that has advertisements -- you just can't force people to watch them or do something in order to use the app. Remember, you should not be paying for applications that use this data.
Take a look at the full third-party API usage policy after the break. If you're interesting in coding with these new APIs to create programs, web tools, or mobile apps, check out Blizzard's community platform API forum on the WoW community site. You will be in awesome company.
With the continued popularity of third-party applications, which are referred to hereafter as "applications" or "web applications", are created by the community of players for use with our games, Blizzard Entertainment has created formal guidelines for their design and distribution. These guidelines have been put in place to ensure the integrity of our games and to help promote an enjoyable gaming environment for all of our players.
Intended Audience
The Third-Party API Usage Policy is for developers developing applications where applications include distributed and non-distributed products and services that at any point engage Blizzard Entertainment Web API resources. Web API resources include any data that can be accessed through HTTP requests to URLs on the battle.net website that being with "/api".
Example applications include, but are not limited to:
Service Availability Notice
Blizzard Entertainment makes no guarantee of the availability of any data, functionality, or feature provided by or through the API. In addition, Blizzard Entertainment may at any time revoke access to the API or disable part or all of the API without any warning or notice.
Applications must abide by the following access guidelines.
The following guidelines have been put in place to ensure that all users of an API will be able to access it:
Applications may not charge premiums for features that use the API.
"Premium" versions of applications offering additional for-pay features are not permitted, nor can players be charged money to download an application, charged for services related to the application, or otherwise be required to offer some form of monetary compensation to download or access an application when those features use the API. Applications may not include interstitials soliciting donations before features or functionality becomes available to the player.
Applications must not negatively impact Blizzard Entertainment games, services, or other players.
Applications must perform no function which, in Blizzard Entertainment's sole discretion, negatively impacts the performance of Blizzard Entertainment games or services, or otherwise negatively affects the game for other players.
Application code must be completely visible.
The programming code of an application must in no way be hidden or obfuscated, and must be freely accessible to and viewable by the general public.
Applications may not imply any association with Blizzard Entertainment.
Applications may not imply any association with, or endorsement by, Blizzard Entertainment.
Applications must not contain offensive or objectionable material.
Blizzard Entertainment requires that applications contain no offensive, obscene, or otherwise objectionable material, as determined by Blizzard's sole discretion. Applications should contain only content appropriate for the ESRB rating for the related game(s). For example, World of Warcraft has been rated "T for Teen" by the ESRB, and has received similar ratings from other ratings boards around the world.
Blizzard trademarks, titles, or tradenames should not be used when naming an Application.
Applications may not use names based on Blizzard's trademarks or taken from Blizzard's products as the name, or part of the name, of the Application.
License for Use
Applications that use Blizzard Entertainment intellectual property, such as Blizzard Web API resources, require a license for that use. Blizzard Entertainment may at its sole discretion request that any application that uses its intellectual property be removed and no longer distributed.
Policy Compliance Notice
Blizzard Entertainment is committed to maintaining the integrity of our games and services and to providing safe, fair, and fun gaming environment for all of our players. As such, failure to abide by the guidelines in this policy may result in measures up to and including legal action, when necessary.
Thank you for reading these guidelines, and for helping Blizzard Entertainment continue to deliver high-quality gameplay experiences.
Intended Audience
The Third-Party API Usage Policy is for developers developing applications where applications include distributed and non-distributed products and services that at any point engage Blizzard Entertainment Web API resources. Web API resources include any data that can be accessed through HTTP requests to URLs on the battle.net website that being with "/api".
Example applications include, but are not limited to:
- Client libraries
- Desktop applications
- Services and deamons such as websites and web services
- Scripts and non-compiled applications and utilities
Service Availability Notice
Blizzard Entertainment makes no guarantee of the availability of any data, functionality, or feature provided by or through the API. In addition, Blizzard Entertainment may at any time revoke access to the API or disable part or all of the API without any warning or notice.
Applications must abide by the following access guidelines.
The following guidelines have been put in place to ensure that all users of an API will be able to access it:
- Applications may make up to a total of 10,000 unauthenticated requests per day.
- Applications may make up to a total of 50,000 authenticated requests per day.
- Applications may not use multiple forms of access, including making any combination of unauthenticated and authenticated requests or using multiple API keys, to make more requests than permitted by the guidelines above.
- Applications may not use other third-party services to make additional requests on their behalf.
- Applications may not sell, share, transfer, or distribute application access keys or tokens.
Applications may not charge premiums for features that use the API.
"Premium" versions of applications offering additional for-pay features are not permitted, nor can players be charged money to download an application, charged for services related to the application, or otherwise be required to offer some form of monetary compensation to download or access an application when those features use the API. Applications may not include interstitials soliciting donations before features or functionality becomes available to the player.
Applications must not negatively impact Blizzard Entertainment games, services, or other players.
Applications must perform no function which, in Blizzard Entertainment's sole discretion, negatively impacts the performance of Blizzard Entertainment games or services, or otherwise negatively affects the game for other players.
Application code must be completely visible.
The programming code of an application must in no way be hidden or obfuscated, and must be freely accessible to and viewable by the general public.
Applications may not imply any association with Blizzard Entertainment.
Applications may not imply any association with, or endorsement by, Blizzard Entertainment.
Applications must not contain offensive or objectionable material.
Blizzard Entertainment requires that applications contain no offensive, obscene, or otherwise objectionable material, as determined by Blizzard's sole discretion. Applications should contain only content appropriate for the ESRB rating for the related game(s). For example, World of Warcraft has been rated "T for Teen" by the ESRB, and has received similar ratings from other ratings boards around the world.
Blizzard trademarks, titles, or tradenames should not be used when naming an Application.
Applications may not use names based on Blizzard's trademarks or taken from Blizzard's products as the name, or part of the name, of the Application.
License for Use
Applications that use Blizzard Entertainment intellectual property, such as Blizzard Web API resources, require a license for that use. Blizzard Entertainment may at its sole discretion request that any application that uses its intellectual property be removed and no longer distributed.
Policy Compliance Notice
Blizzard Entertainment is committed to maintaining the integrity of our games and services and to providing safe, fair, and fun gaming environment for all of our players. As such, failure to abide by the guidelines in this policy may result in measures up to and including legal action, when necessary.
Thank you for reading these guidelines, and for helping Blizzard Entertainment continue to deliver high-quality gameplay experiences.
Filed under: Cataclysm






Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Donhorn Dec 14th 2011 1:48PM
Hmm... I remember Mr Robot was working on a subscription plan, looks like this just put the kabbash on that.
Chris Anthony Dec 14th 2011 1:59PM
Kibosh. And given the restrictions on addons, I honestly figured that this was in place from the beginning. (And there shouldn't be ANYONE who's surprised by this.)
Pyromelter Dec 14th 2011 1:59PM
Blizzard has been staunchly against paid services for in-game help, there was a 3rd party leveling guide that I can't remember the name of, but it was forced to shut down (or stop charging, I forget which). Even under the older policies, ask mr. robot would not have been allowed to charge for that type of service.
vincentmagius Dec 14th 2011 2:35PM
I know they have the Android app that's $1.99. It's possible they may be able to get away with that since the website is free, it's a one time cost, and you're not paying for the data pulling, but the calculations. Maybe.
Infinite Duck Dec 14th 2011 2:40PM
Zygor's? It's still alive. They get around it by saying you aren't paying for the addon, but the guide itself, or so I've heard. I personally wouldn't pay for it. I actually don't know if it's really an addon still or not. It's not something I stay updated with. At this point, I don't even like paying 15 bucks a month, and Wow will be the last game I play at that price rate. I'm cheap in my old age.
Snuzzle Dec 14th 2011 3:11PM
I was just thinking about Mr. Robot's paid Android app. We'll see how that goes with Blizz.
Donhorn Dec 14th 2011 6:46PM
The main thing with the Android/iOS is they announced a while back they were going to discontinue those (due to the slow update process for iOS apps) in favor of a mobile web interface with features that would be available via subscription.
Also, quite a few of the bigger WoW addons have a donate option in one way or another, programs like Mr Robot can always go with that, but I'm just gonna say they shouldn't quit their day jobs over an app.
Pred Dec 14th 2011 1:50PM
I wonder how this will affect Ask Mr. Robot's plans for their new site. It would be nice to see a break down of how this policy affects the planned features.
S Dec 14th 2011 1:55PM
I have a question about the app code available part. Do you think that Blizzard will enforce this? I know it has just about killed Carbonite, and I feel like sites like Mr. Robot and The Undermine Journal will be severely affected by this. (I don't see Mr. Robot going to open source now that they were trying to go freemium, and I thought TUJ had a paid service also.) I understand Blizzard trying to not allow people to profit from their product, but I feel like they are killing more quality products with this.
Pyromelter Dec 14th 2011 1:56PM
"App creators will also not be able to put commercials or advertisements inside of applications that hinder the use of the application and data... you just can't force people to watch them or do something in order to use the app."
Another example of what makes Blizzard the great company it is. Yes, this is done in large part to protect their product and trademarks and licenses, but this ends up being hugely beneficial to all WoW players and Blizz fans. Nice to see a company with a sensible policy that benefits their customers, and this is why Blizzard has developed a fanbase for it's entire suite of games, because of good policies like this one.
Montas Dec 14th 2011 4:24PM
This also means ppl wont make apps they would, becouse they would have to give out their code.
Caliea Dec 14th 2011 2:15PM
Noob question: What exactly is API? In layman's terms... google gave me too many technical terms I had to look up. Then I got lost.
Kurly Dec 14th 2011 2:18PM
API - Application programming Interface.
It's basically 'hooks' blizzard builds into it's products that allows third party developers access to the wow database without putting the underlying data at risk
Caliea Dec 14th 2011 2:21PM
Thanks Kurly. That's what I was looking for - the 'why do we need this?" part! :)
iloveblueberries Dec 14th 2011 6:55PM
Does that affect this website http://www.wowbestinslot.com/
radda Dec 14th 2011 3:05PM
I was actually going to pay for Ask Mr. Robot, sonce it was a reasonable $1/mo, but now it looks like I won't.
I wonder if this affects their ability to sell the mobile app. You pay for the extra convinence and development cost, whike web access remains free. Hmm.
potatoe Dec 14th 2011 4:25PM
So basically, Blizzard wants people to work for free (or for whatever pittance advertisement views pay).
That's entirely their prerogative, but it certainly puts a damper on the incentive to provide innovative services.
I'm glad I already paid for my AskMrRobot app.
They were talking about working on it full time since they had enough interested customers to quit their day jobs.
Now that they can't charge, I wonder if they will focus more on their SWTOR mr robot version.
Way to go Blizzard. -_-
--
Regards,
Potatoe
https://twitter.com/potatoeWoW
Angus Dec 14th 2011 6:13PM
Bought the app just before this was announced, glad I did.
I am annoyed they would kill the point of this. People would use te APIs to provide cool services. But unlike add on, this is something that is used in the game. I understand not wanting to make someone pay more for enhanced gameplay, but a website is completely separate and has a real cost associated with it.
Additionally, if someone uses that API but only to make their code get info to make suggestions, or simulations, why do they need to give everyone the code and can't be paid for their time.
I would not blame the guys for vetting on star wars at that point.
TR Dec 14th 2011 5:14PM
A shame they still haven't opened character calendars for syncing/subscriptions again. I miss being able to sync via Gmail or my phone.
Xsinthis Dec 14th 2011 7:22PM
The source code part is especially stupid. I can understand it for addons since you are running that on your account, but on a website? Just stupid