Legal status of web scraping?

S

stebok

Newbie

Oct 28, 2011

28

3

• Jan 23, 2013

• #1

I can't seem to find a clear answer to the legality of using web scrapers, other than it may violate the TOS of the website, how do they find out and enforce legal action?

 

irmscher

Power Member

Sep 18, 2011

708

142

• Jan 23, 2013

• #2

Man, good proverb: "Stay out of the kitchen if you can take the heat". Legal action is too much for scraping, in worst scenario they'll just ban you.

 

Cleverchristopher

Registered Member

Nov 12, 2012

73

62

• Jan 24, 2013

• #3

I scrape 24/7 - I get about 1-2 DCMA take downs a month. I respond to those within 12 hours to keep my hosting company happy - I'm not the least bit worried about it.