Hacker News Reader

"You may not copy, modify, create derivative works based upon, distribute, sell, lease, or sublicense any of our software or services"

This seems to make it pretty clear they don't want you to create 3rd-party clients for their service.

View on HN

Ripcord isn't a derivative work, both practically and in the legal sense. It's implemented from scratch. Ripcord isn't a resell of their service or a sublicense of their service.

If I rephrase it like this, does it make it clear?

"You may not create derivative works based upon any of our services"

In the imaginary world where that's what the terms of service says, that's still fine for Ripcord -- Ripcord isn't a derivative work.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com