I'm not a legal expert, but I would say that using an automated application to run search queries, even if it is just to check rankings, would fall under the retrieve portion of that prohibited clause. Also, if all you're looking for is to find your site's rank in the Google index for given keywords, the AJAX API is going to be really rather restricting because you can only retrieve a maximum of 64 results. So if your site is number 65, you'll never know.
Jeremy R. Geerdes Effective website design & development Des Moines, IA For more information or a project quote: http://jgeerdes.home.mchsi.com http://jgeerdes.blogspot.com http://jgeerdes.wordpress.com [email protected] Unless otherwise noted, any price quotes contained within this communication are given in US dollars. If you're in the Des Moines, IA, area, check out Debra Heights Wesleyan Church! And check out my blog, Adventures in Web Development, at http://jgeerdes.blogspot.com ! On Apr 6, 2009, at 4:00 AM, RonMertens wrote: > > Jeremy, > > I've read and re-read the TOS (http://code.google.com/apis/ajaxsearch/ > terms.html) and I cannot find anything about automated queries... > beside: > > # use any robot, spider, site search/retrieval application, or other > device to retrieve or index any portion of Google services or collect > information about users for any unauthorized purpose; > > But checking ranking does not fall within that I think (I'm not > retrieving or indexing and Google services or user info)... I'm just > checking a web site position in the search... Anyone has any info on > that? > > Thanks! > > Ron > > On Mar 17, 7:50 pm, Jeremy Geerdes <[email protected]> wrote: >> Legality will depend on your application abiding by the TOU. The >> clause of primary concern with a SEO application like this would be, >> in my mind, the prohibition of automated queries. I am not, however, >> alegalexpert, so you should probably consult one (because they might >> find more cause for concern). >> >> That said, practically speaking, the AJAX API's result limitations >> will likely present a insurmountable problem. Namely, the 64-result >> limitation will be a huge hindrance to effectively finding a site's >> page rank. >> >> Jeremy R. Geerdes >> Effective website design & development >> Des Moines, IA >> >> For more information or a project quote:http://jgeerdes.home.mchsi.comhttp >> ://jgeerdes.blogspot.comhttp://jgeerdes.wordpress.com >> [email protected] >> >> Unless otherwise noted, any price quotes contained within this >> communication are given in US dollars. >> >> If you're in the Des Moines, IA, area, check out Debra Heights >> Wesleyan Church! >> >> And check out my blog, Adventures in Web Development, >> athttp://jgeerdes.blogspot.com >> ! >> >> On Mar 17, 2009, at 5:45 AM, RonMertens wrote: >> >> >> >>> Hi guys. >> >>> I want to introduce a new web app that will include google ranking >>> for >>> web sites (i.e. your google search position for a keyword). >> >>> I know I can use the new AJAX API to do that (using PHP, I have >>> made a >>> small test case). My question - is thatlegal? Will you guys approve? >> >>> Ron > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Google AJAX APIs" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Google-AJAX-Search-API?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
