Nat Torkington (!) removes some of the romance around free API’s over on O’Reilly Radar, and he’s got a point.
I guess this is particularly – mostly – pertinent for businesses whose core offering is based on decentralised content, rather than for those (such as museums) who might want to share data as part of a bigger whole. But none the less it’s a warning shot for those who assume this stuff will always be free, and available.
I’m guessing that Michael Arrington’s Techcrunch deadpool will fill up with a myriad of new web2.0 businesses who have too many eggs in the API basket…