Publishing a license for the interface, client code, server code, and data to ensure consumers understand the legal implications of using the API, code, and data into their own applications and integrations.
API Licensing
Rules
APIs.json Apis Properties License Info
This property so that an API Commons interface license exists for an API, giving a machine-readable reference for an API, as well as data, backend, and front-end code
Strategies
APIs Are Legally Covered
The legal side of APIs is one of those things nobody wants to deal with until it bites them. Terms of service, privacy policies, licensing, regulatory compliance--you need all of this sorted out be...
APIs Meet Regulatory and Compliance Requirements
GDPR, SOC2, PCI-DSS, HIPAA--the regulatory landscape around APIs is getting more complex, not less. Every API needs to be mapped to the applicable requirements so that designs, data handling, and o...
Experiences
Onboarding
I see teams dealing with massive friction during onboarding. If a consumer can't get from zero to their first successful API call in minutes, you've already lost them. Getting started guides, sandb...
Change
Change is the one constant across the API landscape, and I watch teams struggle with it every single day. If you aren't actively managing and communicating change across versions, deprecations, and...
Consistency
When I look across the API landscape, consistency is one of the biggest challenges I see. Every team does things differently, and the surface area of inconsistency just grows until governance becom...
Legal
The legal side of APIs is something most teams ignore until it bites them. Terms of service, privacy policies, licensing -- these building blocks matter, and the politics around API usage are only ...