[GeoAtreides]

yes, and per HN terms and conditions only YC and YC affiliated (as you quoted) can use the api legally. I don't license my content to anyone else and so it shouldn't be use by anyone else, even if it's available on a free-for-all API (nice move HN, btw).

[moralestapia]

https://github.com/HackerNews/API/blob/master/LICENSE

It's right there, you just have to click the link I shared ...

[GeoAtreides]

that's the license for the API, not the content/data the API serves

[jupr]

>including without limitation the rights to use

'use'...arguably the sole purpose of the API is to fetch the data.

You are grasping at straws.