So Twitter has cause a mini storm by turning on its developer ecosystem. Anyone who didn’t see this coming have been very naive. Any business who utilises a third-party system such as the APIs/Platforms/Marketplaces in order to make money doesn’t have a business built on solid foundations.

Sure you can argue that it is the developers who have made Twitter or Facebook or Apple or ANother service popular but at the end of the day these are the companies who hold all the cards. They are free to change their terms and conditions as they see fit. People may call foul but ultimately these companies are here to make money and they will do so as they please. The only way around this is to be the company holding the cards.

Would I still develop a Facebook App for a client, or an iOS app etc. You bet I would, but if it was for me my eyes are open, if it is for a client then I would have a duty to open their eyes as well. Don’t like this then vote with your feet, don’t utilise this platform, or except the risks. Beware the third-party, especially if the service is “free”.