Ryanair Attempts To Get Microsoft Onboard In Drive To Stop Screenscrapers

Low cost carrier Ryanair has asked Micrososft to enhance its efforts to prevent screenscraping of its site by third parties.

It is believed that Microsoft and their technology provider Navitaire have been asked by Ryanair to block access from third parties that are attempting to scrape their site and follow the example of Directline Insurance that boasts that it cannot be found on any comparison sites.

This in practice may not be as easy as blocking commercial IP addresses however as it is accepted that many businesses use domestic/consumer IP addresses that could be very hard to implement. After the publication of a list of 300 websites that are accused by Ryanair of screenscraping their site the airline has received criticism. There has been a denial by Cheapflights and lastminute.com of this activity and Skyscanner have even claimed that the low-cost carrier gave them permission for screenscraping.

Ryanair have also been fighting a decision reached after a preliminary hearing ruled that they are not permitted to refuse travel to passengers who have booked a ticket with them through a third party, the action was taken against Ryanair by Cheap Tickets BV in Germany. Ryanair has stated that they are to fight this decision and are confident of victory - this remains to be seen.

Published by: Jon Vickery