Sorry, but if we just look at the Google Maps API as an example, it would be a HUGE stretch to consider them a common carrier.  The mapping data industry has huge competition right now.  We&#x27;re not even in the same realm of consideration for &quot;regulation&quot; of an API.  That is ridiculous.<p>The simple reality is that Google can control in any way shape or form how their API is consumed.  Like I said, if you don&#x27;t like that, <i>don&#x27;t build your business on the API.</i>  You do not have a <i>right</i> to anyone&#x27;s API, regardless of how important the data is to your pet project or unicorn idea.<p>This same argument comes up when the Twitter API consumers get all up in arms because the business they built solely on top of Twitter&#x27;s platform is all the sudden deemed irrelevant because of API access changes or terms of service changes.  Tough tootles!  And guess what, your API scraping twitter feed re-display iOS app is not innovation!<p>I personally think that &quot;free APIs&quot; are great, but if you don&#x27;t have it in your business plan to share a portion of your revenue with external API data providers when they eventually ask, then you are going to get yourself in the position that the OP did.