If they really had any standing, wouldn't they have sent the DMCA takedown request to github instead? Or are they just afraid it would be negative on their part to be permanently in https://github.com/github/dmca?
Ask HN: Take down my reverse-engineered Snapchat lib because they asked?
31–40 of 137 posts
Re: Ask HN: Take down my reverse-engineered Snapchat lib because they asked?
#32"Written" as in sent you a registered letter? Or was this an email?
I don't know anything about the Snapchat API but if it's simply undocumented I don't see how that would be a "technological measure" of "effective control."
If you had to sniff or crack an API key of some sort, maybe that does.
In any event, it seems like a friendly enough request, maybe take it down as a courtesy pending their clarifying exactly what "technological measure" of "effective control" they think it "circumvents." Depending on their response and how much you think you want to push it, you can then decide what to do.
Re: Ask HN: Take down my reverse-engineered Snapchat lib because they asked?
#33IMNAL, but if they aren't filing off a DMCA notice (but asserting it's a DMCA violation), why care?
I persume they can't file a lawsuit without filing DMCA takedown notice first?
If so, when they'll file the notice, GitHub'll take it down (as they usually do). Then you may consider filing counter-notice (if you can afford legal action) or, I guess (IMNAL!) ignore the whole affair.
Anyway, you'd better consult a lawyer.
Re: Ask HN: Take down my reverse-engineered Snapchat lib because they asked?
#34I hate to play devil's advocate here (especially since I already have a post here) but I had a thought. For Snapchat some of the biggest selling points are the self destruct abilities of the media sent. So an unauthorized client puts a stake trough the heart of that claim (and the company). I see why they may be worried, but I think that they should have communicated their concerns more clearly and pleading, and not…
Exactly. "Self destructing" messages are an illusion. Publicizing this fact may be bad for Snapchat's business, but it's good for their users who have a false sense of security.
Re: Ask HN: Take down my reverse-engineered Snapchat lib because they asked?
#35I hate to play devil's advocate here (especially since I already have a post here) but I had a thought. For Snapchat some of the biggest selling points are the self destruct abilities of the media sent. So an unauthorized client puts a stake trough the heart of that claim (and the company). I see why they may be worried, but I think that they should have communicated their concerns more clearly and pleading, and not…
The product is untenable, as it is impossible to guarantee that the message is not copied when it is viewed. No amount of pleading or threatening will change that.
Re: Ask HN: Take down my reverse-engineered Snapchat lib because they asked?
#36I've duplicated it into a private repository. Reference, if you will.
Re: Ask HN: Take down my reverse-engineered Snapchat lib because they asked?
#37Morally, I would take it down.
It is all well and good to write these sorts of things as a demo, but distribution is something where I would defer to the actual owner of the API in question.
After all, how many of us would want someone creating an unauthorized library to a private API that we don't wish to have public?
Re: Ask HN: Take down my reverse-engineered Snapchat lib because they asked?
#38Morally, I would take it down. It is all well and good to write these sorts of things as a demo, but distribution is something where I would defer to the actual owner of the API in question. After all, how many of us would want someone creating an unauthorized library to a private API that we don't wish to have public?
As was ruled in the recent Oracle vs. Google case, APIs are not subject to copyright protection:
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/05/no-copyrights-apis-jud...
Re: Ask HN: Take down my reverse-engineered Snapchat lib because they asked?
#39Ignore 99% of the responses in this thread, particularly any that say "I think...", "It seems fair...", and so on. You're in a legal situation here, if you are worried, contact a lawyer.
Bunk. He spent 2 days on a hobby project with no hopes of ever making any money off of it. It makes no sense to spend time and money consulting a lawyer over this.
Re: Ask HN: Take down my reverse-engineered Snapchat lib because they asked?
#40I highly doubt this has anything to do with stifling innovation. Given Snapchat's popularity, it would make a lot more sense that they are trying to restrict 3rd party access to cut down on spam. Nothing will be more destructive to their service than bots churning out huge amounts of spam, undermining the trust they have built with their users.