Hugh MacLeod of GapingVoid helps Mashery explain API monetization

Yesterday I made a presentation to senior management at Best Buy about the API ecosystem and some of the great opportunities they will have with their recently announced, mashery-powered "remix" api.

I've long been a fan of Hugh MacLeod, the cartoonist behind gapingvoid, and am very fortunate to call Hugh a great friend.

So when I was looking for some images to help explain how the "remixed" world works, I borrowed liberally from Hugh's trove of cartoons (which he makes freely available to anyone to use, with attribution). It occurred to me that given Hugh's licensing terms (and his own business model of giving away free cartoons in order to make money as a cartoonist), he of all people understood the value of making content available to others.

So I asked Hugh to think about the API ecosystem and come up with a cartoon that could help explain the why companies would make content available as an open api. He was kind enough to take a break from finishing his book manuscript to draw the cartoon above. I love it - and anyone who sees me speak is likely to see this cartoon in my slides. Thanks, Hugh! (cross-posted at mashery blog - image copyright (c) hugh macleod, www.gapingvoid.com)