Re:Show HN: A simple API for validating bank routing numbers
by ryanlbrown on Tuesday February 03, 2015 @07:15PM
(#8994496)
Is this legal? The fed provides this data for free (http://www.fededirectory.frb.org/download.cfm) and also says, "The information contained in the directory may not be sold, relicensed, or otherwise used for commercial gain." Am I missing something?
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Re:Show HN: A simple API for validating bank routing numbers
by bcwood on Wednesday February 04, 2015 @10:52AM
(#8997497)
We're not pulling the data from the fed site, so there is no issue with the use of that data. We work with a group that maintains this data independently of the published fed directory.
Re:Show HN: A simple API for validating bank routing numbers
by shapov on Tuesday February 03, 2015 @08:01PM
(#8994689)
I am also interested about this. I hope someone with enough legal background chimes in here.
Could the company claim that they are providing a service of programmatic access to that data? I mean there is added value here, so I don't see anything particularly wrong here, ethically speaking.
Re:Show HN: A simple API for validating bank routing numbers
by Mandatum on Tuesday February 03, 2015 @10:10PM
(#8995111)
Well if they're charging for the service which uses data which says "The information contained in the directory may not be sold, relicensed, or otherwise used for commercial gain", it's hard to argue that they're NOT doing just that.