Web Weather > Weather Web Resources
WunderGround lawyers have been busy...
saratogaWX:
I don't know if you've clicked on the Terms of Service link at the bottom of Wunderground pages, then read it. This seems to be a new page that's appeared in the last month or so, and has some incredible restrictions in it: (see http://www.wunderground.com/members/tos.asp )
--- Quote ---TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE
The Wunderground.com site is (the "Site") is owned and operated by The Weather Underground, Inc. ("WUI"). Listed below are the terms and conditions of use (the "Terms") for this Site. By using, accessing and/or viewing information on the Site, you (the .Participant.) agree to be bound by these Terms. If you violate these Terms, WUI has the right to terminate your use of the Site and/or take appropriate legal actions against you. We reserve the right to change these Terms at any time by posting on the Site. participant understands and agrees that its use of this Site is a benefit voluntarily given by WUI and that WUI may withdraw that benefit and rescind your participation at any time for any reason in its sole discretion. If you do not agree to the Terms you cannot use this Site or the services and information offered herein.
1. PERMITTED USE. You may use the Site and the features, information, pictures and other data contained therein (collectively, the "Data") only for personal, non-commercial purposes. You may access, view and make copies of the Data in the Site for your personal, non-commercial use and will not publish or otherwise distribute the Data for any other purpose. Without limiting the foregoing, you may not utilize the Site to sell a product or service, to advertise or direct activity to other websites or for similar commercial activities without our express written consent. You may not modify, publish, transmit, display, participate in the transfer or sale, create derivative works, or in any way exploit, any of the Data, in whole or in part. Further restrictions on the use of this Site and its Data are provided in Sections 2, 6 and 9 of these Terms and in the Photo Gallery Agreement (where applicable).
--- End quote ---
As written, it appears that we (members/contributors of data to Wunderground) may use/view data on their website for our personal use. However, the two sentences:
You may access, view and make copies of the Data in the Site for your personal, non-commercial use and will not publish or otherwise distribute the Data for any other purpose. and You may not modify, publish, transmit, display, participate in the transfer or sale, create derivative works, or in any way exploit, any of the Data, in whole or in part.
imply that we can't use our own data (rapid-fire flash on our site, show graphs from wunderground about our data), nor embed their radar, satellite, weather map graphics (and presumably the forecast icons, and forecasts) on our sites either.
Now, the strange part. The stock templates that come with VWS create websites that embed hotlinks to the Wunderground radar and satellite images, have forecasts (with icons) from Wunderground, and the automatic link generation for 'nearby' WU reports, which also appear on a mesomap function. The template has a copyright at the bottom for Ambient and Wunderground. So I guess (but don't know) that using VWS for this is an 'acceptable use' under their new Terms of Service.
For the rest of us (using WeatherLink, Weather-Display or others), what does it all mean? I'm going to write the question to WU before I strip out all the WU stuff (attributed) on my site. I had asked last year and was told that using the graphics/data on personal weather websites was ok as long as the source was attributed.
Happy New Lawyers...
:evil:
Ken
capeweather:
Yeah to me that sounds like Bullsh*t. They are using on our data to distribute on there website to cash in so what will it hurt to put a radar image on our personal site? Seems like a fair tradeoff but if they want to play dirty then in the long run they will lose. Not only are they getting data from just weather conditions but they have teamed with Astrogenic to provide lightning in there radar images. Gee I wonder where that comes from. Oh and I forgot to mention the Noaa weather radio project they just started. Hmm, do you think all these nice features could be done without the help of us..the contributors? That kind of irks me a little but let us know what you find out Ken. I may have not read it correctly but it didn't sound good. :x
saratogaWX:
I've posted the question to:
Weather Station Information & Support
Shaun Tanner
(415) 543-5044 (fax)
Contact us through Weather Station Help http://www.wunderground.com/help/?topic=3&question=28&request=1#ask
--- Quote ---Subject: Use of WU radar/satellite/maps on personal weather websites
Question:
I noticed a new Terms of Service at the bottom of your site. In reading it, I find that the ToS now seems to forbid personal weather websites from using graphics/forecast info from your site. When I'd asked this question before the ToS appeared, I was given the answer that personal weather websites could use the information as long as attribution was given to WunderGround with a link to the page having the data on your site.
I know that VWS default templates generate hotlinks to your radar/satellite graphics, and pull data for the local mesomap generated by VWS.
Are all us weather enthusiasts now in violation of your terms of service? Should we remove all graphics/links to WU on our personal weather websites? Will Ambient be shipping a new VWS template set that doesn't violate your ToS?
My website is at http://saratoga-weather.org and I've been a contributing member since 2004. If your ToS doesn't allow fair use of your summaries/maps/graphs in exchange for our uploads of weather data, I feel that many weather enthusiasts will withdraw from WeatherUnderground.
Please send clarification at your earliest opportunity.
Best regards,
Ken True
ph: 408-***-****
webmaster@saratoga-weather.org
--- End quote ---
I'll keep you updated on the saga. If their new answer is "No use on personal weather websites", I'll be starting the exodus from WunderGround personally.
Ken
DundeeWeather:
Sounds like we (the data contributers) need to come up with a similar Terms of Service. Good point Ken on the Ambient/WUG partnership. There is probably some fine print somewhere that explains the relationship.
There is a simple answer to all of this:
www.weatherforyou.com (and don't send WUG your data)
Greg
capeweather:
I'm with ya...and the funny thing is..word will spread very quickly :twisted:
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version