Please understand that I am not a legal expert, so if you have ANY doubts about what I'm about to say, you should consult someone who is.
That said, I think that you will have a couple of major problems with using the API formerly known as the "AJAX WebSearch API" for your purposes. First, the WebSearch API has been deprecated, so at some point within the next 30 months or so, it will cease to function. Second, the API's TOS strictly prohibit the use of applications which submit automated requests or, really, requests which are not directly prompted by end users. So you could not use the API to iterate through your database and run searches on every listing. The best you could do would be to run a search as a user hits the business' page and then stash any url in your database at that time. Which brings up a third, secondary issue: if you stash data from Google in your database, you then must attribute that data to Google. I.e., you must make clear that you pulled the url from Google by displaying Google branding and the whole "clipped from Google - [date]" bit as described in the TOS. So, that's the Web Search API. What about it's successor, the Custom Search API (CSAPI), though? Well, in that case, while you don't have to worry about it being discontinued, you do still have to contend with the second issue: no automated requests. As an added bonus in this case, you also have to deal with the fact that, by default, the CSAPI has a limit of 100 queries per day per application ID. You can request an increase in this by enabling billing (i.e., they will start charging you something like $5 per 1000 queries), but considering that the CSAPI terms make no provisions for "clipping" results with attribution or otherwise like the old WebSearch API, this can quickly become a real consideration. And to make very clear, the TOS explicitly state that you may not attempt to circumvent the payment system (e.g., by registering multiple application ID's). So, to sum up, you could use the Google Search APIs, but you will need to be very, very careful how you do it, and you may end up simply causing yourself a considerable amount of grief. Jeremy R. Geerdes Generally Cool Guy Des Moines, IA For more information or a project quote: [email protected] If you're in the Des Moines, IA, area, check out Debra Heights Wesleyan Church! On Mar 28, 2011, at 8:56 AM, Dominic wrote: > Hi, > > I am working on a Business Dictionary(YelloPages type) website and we > would like to use the google AJAX api for custom research of homepages > for businesses that have no link provided(from our data provider) > > Is this the right API to use, are there any examples of similar > usecases ? > > (Say you know the name, address and business description and want to > find the homepage) > > Thanks > > -- > 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. > -- 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.
