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Marvel Comics API

developer.marvel.com

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31–40 of 64 posts

Re: Marvel Comics API

#31

Post by awad »

chaostheory wrote: post #30
sbarre wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When this conversation came up on Reddit a while back, someone made the same point as you, and I replied (more or less) this back then too: These terms apply to the free usage of their API. I have no doubt that if you had a good idea that monetized their API data well, and you wanted to do things not allowed by this default license agreement, you could reach out to them and get a different license that allowed you to…

Unless they have a public price, I'd be wary. When you have to ask for cost, it's usually about 5-6 figures for year of access. Still, it's a start.

The lower end of that is perfectly in line with what you'd be paying other providers for commercial services.

Re: Marvel Comics API

#32

Post by quux »

saraid216 wrote: post #28
quux wrote: post #15

Via John Carmack's twitter feed: https://twitter.com/ID_AA_Carmack/status/459728407169728512

Amusingly, you basically won the HN lottery on uptake: https://hn.algolia.com/#!/story/forever/0/developer.marvel.c...

How was this reposted so many times? I was sure when I posted it that someone would have beaten me to it and I would be up voting their post.

Re: Marvel Comics API

#33

Post by rdwallis »

Looks like they're putting in place infrastructure for an API affiliate plan.

To use the API you must display a copyright link whose href points at a url included in the API's response.

Ignoring the nice boost this gives to Google rank, the urls change based on the request and so can point to a place where the viewer can buy the API response's content from Marvel.

Plus each url includes a tag so Marvel can know which app sent them the customer.

Not sure why they're putting such a powerful linkback/affiliate scheme in the copyright notice though. If they're sending back custom urls it's no extra effort to include call to action text for the link as well eg: Buy 'Avengers: The Quest For Profit'.

More info in the linking section of http://developer.marvel.com/documentation/attribution

Re: Marvel Comics API

#34

Post by quux »

saraid216 wrote: post #28
quux wrote: post #15

Via John Carmack's twitter feed: https://twitter.com/ID_AA_Carmack/status/459728407169728512

Amusingly, you basically won the HN lottery on uptake: https://hn.algolia.com/#!/story/forever/0/developer.marvel.c...

I think the difference is that I used the word API in my submissions title, which immediately makes the developer part of my brain say "Comic book API? What's that about?" and want to know more.

Re: Marvel Comics API

#36

Post by crabasa »

For anyone who has enjoyed Timehop, I put together an app I call Marvelhop [1]. It simply picks a random comic that was issued on this week in the past 20 years.

I am surely biased, but it's a pretty fun way to rediscover comics you might have forgotten about.

[1]: http://marvelhop.jit.su/

UPDATE: The code that queries the API (while messy) is entirely written in client-side JQuery, so feel free to view the source.

Re: Marvel Comics API

#37

Post by sbarre »

chaostheory wrote: post #30
sbarre wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When this conversation came up on Reddit a while back, someone made the same point as you, and I replied (more or less) this back then too: These terms apply to the free usage of their API. I have no doubt that if you had a good idea that monetized their API data well, and you wanted to do things not allowed by this default license agreement, you could reach out to them and get a different license that allowed you to…

Unless they have a public price, I'd be wary. When you have to ask for cost, it's usually about 5-6 figures for year of access. Still, it's a start.

Well, again it probably depends on your idea, and what the potential revenue is.

It's also possible that they have no idea what to charge for their API right now, and they are waiting to see what kinds of offers come in.

That's also smart (or ruthless?) since it allows them to tailor their price to your idea (i.e. maximize their share of the potential revenue).

I hope people figure out cool things to do with this though.

Re: Marvel Comics API

#39

Post by bscofield »

bueno wrote: post #9

I'm currently developing a website, Longboxed ( http://www.longboxed.com ), that helps users build virtual pull lists, keeping them up to date with the latest releases. The comic industry needs more of this. There is a wealth of information out there, nearly all of which is user created. Its nice to see Marvel offering this. I'm very interested in seeing what people make with this. Now let's pester DC, Image, Dark Ho…

Good luck! I traveled that road for a few years with a site called MyPullList (2007-2010, RIP), and had a heck of a time with ... basically all of it. I did have a lot of fun talking about the data model and its challenges during the height of the NoSQL hype, though.

Re: Marvel Comics API

#40

Post by earbitscom »

turtle4 wrote: post #14

While having access at all is nice, the terms of use are prohibitive and somewhat heavy handed. They basically say you can make something, but can't charge for it in any way, you can't create a mash-up (no augmentation of data) and if it works out, Marvel will probably implement it for themselves anyway. Not really as 'open' as you might hope. The following default rules apply to all Apps: Advertising. No advertising…

Take into consideration that most APIs don't contain primarily data and information about trademarked characters and copyrighted works. They are going to err on the side of being very cautious when opening up an API full of their popular intellectual property.
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