Image hashes for covers

[mizaki]

Recently, Metron added image hashes to their DB/API, discussion here. Because you do not have an API (currently), it may be of little interest but having them in the dump could be of use to some people, or yourselves in the future with your own API.

Is it something you would consider?

[jochengcd]

With the distribution of comic images we are always very careful on what we provide. I am not sure that we would provide them with an API even if we would do one. Only if the user of the API acknowledges to be (financially) responsible for any potential troubles we might come into by providing covers via an API. So it would be a sub-API in some sense.

If we would do it, an image hash might by a possibility, or we would provide the data of the last update of the image.

[mizaki]

Providing the hash would help get around the image URL issue for identification.

I'm sure you don't want to get into but I'm kind of intrigued. Isn't the (possible) problem not providing a URL to an image (so many APIs already do), but the fact that you host them at all? I would have thought (not an IP lawyer) any liability is already there. If Comic Vine hasn't had any problem? I'm sure you already honour DMCA take down notices too.

[jochengcd]

We see a difference between displaying a cover on an individual page for identification of an issue vs. making cover images available in bulk, which an API would allow.