Google geocode API server key is denied

Question

The Google geocoding API used to work fine for me but I tried it again today and I keep getting

{
   "error_message" : "The provided API key is invalid.",
   "results" : [],
   "status" : "REQUEST_DENIED"
}

When I get the URL https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?address=New%20York&sensor=false&key=MY_KEY. I've generated this (server) key just a few minutes ago so I see no particular reason why it would be invalid. Does anyone have any experience with something similar?

Answer 1

Update 2013-02-25: API keys are now supported with the Geocoding API, so this API call should now succeed, once the Geocoding API service is turned on, in the Google Developers Console. Previously, it was required to remove the API key.