Blizzard releases third-party API usage policy

With the continued popularity of third-party applications, which are referred to hereafter as "applications" or "web applications", are created by the community of players for use with our games, Blizzard Entertainment has created formal guidelines for their design and distribution. These guidelines have been put in place to ensure the integrity of our games and to help promote an enjoyable gaming environment for all of our players.

Intended Audience

The Third-Party API Usage Policy is for developers developing applications where applications include distributed and non-distributed products and services that at any point engage Blizzard Entertainment Web API resources. Web API resources include any data that can be accessed through HTTP requests to URLs on the battle.net website that being with "/api".

Example applications include, but are not limited to: Blizzard reserves the right to change the location and definition of what constitutes and application and Blizzard Entertainment Web API resources at any time.

Service Availability Notice

Blizzard Entertainment makes no guarantee of the availability of any data, functionality, or feature provided by or through the API. In addition, Blizzard Entertainment may at any time revoke access to the API or disable part or all of the API without any warning or notice.

Applications must abide by the following access guidelines.

The following guidelines have been put in place to ensure that all users of an API will be able to access it: Applications may be classified, solely at Blizzard Entertainment's discretion, to allow fewer or greater numbers of requests per day. Blizzard Entertainment also reserves the right to revoke access to the API completely and without warning.

Applications may not charge premiums for features that use the API.

"Premium" versions of applications offering additional for-pay features are not permitted, nor can players be charged money to download an application, charged for services related to the application, or otherwise be required to offer some form of monetary compensation to download or access an application when those features use the API. Applications may not include interstitials soliciting donations before features or functionality becomes available to the player.

Applications must not negatively impact Blizzard Entertainment games, services, or other players.

Applications must perform no function which, in Blizzard Entertainment's sole discretion, negatively impacts the performance of Blizzard Entertainment games or services, or otherwise negatively affects the game for other players.

Application code must be completely visible.

The programming code of an application must in no way be hidden or obfuscated, and must be freely accessible to and viewable by the general public.

Applications may not imply any association with Blizzard Entertainment.

Applications may not imply any association with, or endorsement by, Blizzard Entertainment.

Applications must not contain offensive or objectionable material.

Blizzard Entertainment requires that applications contain no offensive, obscene, or otherwise objectionable material, as determined by Blizzard's sole discretion. Applications should contain only content appropriate for the ESRB rating for the related game(s). For example, World of Warcraft has been rated "T for Teen" by the ESRB, and has received similar ratings from other ratings boards around the world.

Blizzard trademarks, titles, or tradenames should not be used when naming an Application.

Applications may not use names based on Blizzard's trademarks or taken from Blizzard's products as the name, or part of the name, of the Application.

License for Use

Applications that use Blizzard Entertainment intellectual property, such as Blizzard Web API resources, require a license for that use. Blizzard Entertainment may at its sole discretion request that any application that uses its intellectual property be removed and no longer distributed.

Policy Compliance Notice

Blizzard Entertainment is committed to maintaining the integrity of our games and services and to providing safe, fair, and fun gaming environment for all of our players. As such, failure to abide by the guidelines in this policy may result in measures up to and including legal action, when necessary.

Thank you for reading these guidelines, and for helping Blizzard Entertainment continue to deliver high-quality gameplay experiences.