Advertisements and Naming Questions

Other Halo API Support
1

Hello,

First of all I really want to thank 343 and Microsoft for allowing the use of the API data, as a fan of both Halo and numbers in general, I enjoy looking at all the stats available. I did however have a couple questions and I do want to quickly note that I did read these two links beforehand and just wanted clarification: <343 Industries> developer portal and http://www.xbox.com/en-us/developers/rules

So I know in the Halo TOS it talks about limited commercial use and I have seen some apps that have incorporated this and have limited adds in their apps, however in the Xbox TOS it says this:

  • If the Item you create and distribute is a free app, then you must distribute it for free (you can’t charge for it), and you also can’t earn any money from advertising in that app.So I just wanted clarification if it was still ok to follow the limited ads as noted in the Halo TOS, including say in in-app purchase that disables ads (I have seen a Halo 5 app that uses the API with this feature.

Also, if we are releasing an app say on the Apple App Store (or anywhere else for that matter), we shouldn’t include the word “Halo” right, since I have noticed most do not, though I did see some apps for Halo 4 though I’m pretty sure that is a different story, but just wanted to make sure in case I am ever in the case and did not want my app rejected because of naming. Thanks!

2

The ‘Halo® Game Data Terms of Use’ would override the ‘Game Content Usage Rules’ in the case where data comes directly through the API’s endpoints.

The following is from Halo® Game Data Terms of Use (Last Updated: December 16, 2015)

> Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following, limited forms of commercial use (and these forms only) are allowed: using a third-party crowdfunding site (e.g., Kickstarter) for the sole purpose of raising funds to develop your Application, displaying non-restricted advertisements in connection with the display of the Game Data, and offering an in-app purchase solely to remove advertisements.

It explicitly states that non-restricted advertisements are OK as well as having in-app purchases to remove them.

If you want to use game content that doesn’t come from the API, you should fall back to the ‘Game Content Usage Rules’ (in which case, advertisements are not OK).

Disclaimer; I am not a lawyer and I don’t represent 343.