Is it legal to develop a mobile web app for a website that is not owned by me?

Suppose there is a website which I like, but I am not the owner of the website. If I develop a mobile web app for that website so that I and others can use that website features right from their mobile app, would the website owner is going to have any problem or would I get in some legal issues? Also if I include some monetizing models in the mobile app just like advertisements or something like click-based advertisements every time the app opens, is it going to create any disputes? I have actually used many such apps but am not sure whether they are legal or not, that's why clearing the doubts?
Answer:

If you were serious about monetising such an app I would strongly suggest that you get proper legal advice. However, something like the app you are describing is not unheard of. I have seen many apps that are unofficially made to bring a third party website to the native app platform. There are reddit apps, several for Wikipedia, etc. I'm not sure what their legal situation is, but I'd assume they're doing alright. You are going to probably have to talk to the owner of the website eventually though I suspect. It might be a good idea to get in contact with them and get their blessings.

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Other answers

The website owners might sue you. You are using their IP without their permission. If they have an API which you can use to build such a web app, then they would not mind having a mobile web app version of the website. That is why the API is provided. But otherwise, if you really like the website so much, either get in touch with the website owners, ask them to get a mobile version ready or go through a proper channel and get their permission to build the app for them.

Lata Sadhwani

If that website owner has a copyright, its illegal. Actually even otherwise.

Abhimanyu Bhosale

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