Ask HN: Review my web app, PrintedYelp.com

You are asking for legal trouble in a major way. Yelp seems fairly forward-thinking, so I doubt they'll come after you with their lawyer-guns blazing, but they could. And if you don't change your name, you'll leave them with no choice.

Then there's the whole TOS issue of reproducing Yelp content, and on top of that you're violating the copyright of the Yelp users who posted the reviews -- they gave Yelp permission to publish their review, but they didn't give you permission.

I like the idea, and I'd like to see you make it work -- not just for Yelp, but for all the major review sites. If you get the Yelp trademark out of your domain name, serve reviews from multiple sources (Citysearch, etc), and then use excerpts in a defensible fair-use way, then I think you might have something more workable.

Also, sell them framed. No one wants to find frames, and it's a great opportunity for you to create additional profit margin.

I think it's a good idea, much better than those Yelp stickers I see stores putting up.

I have some concerns regarding Yelp's ToS. The solution they mention is to contact them. Better to be forward and honest rather than go behind their back.

Also, IANAL, but they might have to go after you for Trademark infringement for having Yelp in your name (and possibly their logo on your site). I believe it is a "pursue it or lose it" thing.

Below are the ToS parts i think apply to you (in varying degrees).

  6. Restrictions of Use

  You agree that you will not, and will not assist or enable others to:

  c. use the Site for promotional or commercial purposes, except as expressly allowed in writing by Yelp;

  k. modify, adapt, appropriate, reproduce, distribute, translate, create derivative works or adaptations of, publicly display, sell, trade, or in any way exploit the Site or Site Content (other than Your Content), except as expressly authorized by Yelp;

  o. use any robot, spider, site search/retrieval application, or other automated device, process or means to access, retrieve, scrape, or index the Site or any Site Content;

  q. reformat or frame any portion of the Site;

edit: formatting, grammar

I think this is a great idea. The prices seem REALLY high and of course the legal implications are also pretty obvious.

Where do you get these things printed?

Thanks guys for all the feedback. Today I will drop the "PrintedYelp.com" name. This way I'll avoid the greatest legal concern and "abstract" the site to enable prints from other review sites.

Also, I will contact Yelp and let them know what I am doing.

Prints with frames are definitely high on the list. I just need to source some good frames, try them out, etc.

This looks pretty useful. Obvious revenue stream, restuarants especially want this but I would try to promote it to local businesses in your area also.

They have to defend their trademark, or lose it. There's no way you can keep that domain. I don't think this falls under fair use either.

E-mail their lawyer, Laurence Wilson at lwilson@yelp.com.