Google Maps · Google Maps Platform Terms of Service · View original document ↗

Intellectual Property and License Grant

Medium severity High confidence Explicitdocumentlanguage Rare · 7 of 343 platforms
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Recent governance activity Google Maps recorded 2 documented changes in the last 30 days.
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Document Record

What it is

Google gives you a narrow, non-transferable right to use the Maps APIs only for the specific purposes in the agreement. Google retains all other rights to the Maps content and technology.

This analysis describes what Google Maps's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

The license is strictly limited and non-transferable, which means you cannot pass Maps API rights to third parties or use the APIs in ways not explicitly permitted.

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

Medium Jun 24, 2026

The updated terms establish a broader definition of activities that are subject to heightened restrictions under the Google Maps Platform Terms of Service. Previously, the definition enumerated specific high-risk categories. The revised language now encompasses any use case where service failure could reasonably be expected to result in death, serious personal injury, or severe environmental or property damage, and explicitly identifies weaponry as a restricted application. Developers and organizations using Google Maps for restricted purposes should review their use cases against the new definition to ensure continued compliance.

View change record →

Clause Stability Mostly Stable

1
Change
3
Months Monitored
May 10, 2026
First Seen
May 20, 2026
Last Seen
This clause type exists across 646 other provisions on other platforms.
This clause has changed once in 3 months of monitoring.

Change history

removed Jun 24, 2026

Removal of explicit IP license grant from Maps-specific Terms likely indicates relocation to incorporated GCP Terms for consolidated IP framework.

View full change record →
modified May 15, 2026

Royalty-free designation removed; specific permitted uses (develop, test, operate) replaced with 'purposes set forth in these Terms'; reservation of all non-granted rights now explicitly stated.

View full change record →

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

For developers, this clause means the license to use Maps APIs is tightly controlled by Google and cannot be shared or transferred, which limits partnership and white-label arrangements.

How other platforms handle this

HubSpot Medium

As between the parties, Customer retains all right, title and interest in and to the Customer Data. Customer grants to HubSpot and its Affiliates a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free right to collect, use, copy, store, transmit, modify and create derivative works of Customer Data, in each case t...

Acorns Medium

By submitting, posting or displaying Content on or through the Services, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license (with the right to sublicense) to use, copy, reproduce, process, adapt, modify, publish, transmit, display and distribute such Content in any and all media or distri...

Xbox Medium

When you share, post, or upload content that is covered by intellectual property rights (like photos or videos) in or in connection with our products, you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to host, use, distribute, modify, run, copy, publicly per...

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
Google grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-sublicensable, non-transferable license to use the Maps APIs solely for the purposes set forth in these Terms and the applicable documentation. All rights not expressly granted to you are reserved by Google.

— Excerpt from Google Maps's Google Maps Platform Terms of Service

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (Compliance & governance intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision engages intellectual property law, including copyright and trade secret protections applicable to Google's mapping data and technology. It does not directly implicate data protection regulations, though the scope of the license interacts with data processing arrangements. (2) GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. The non-sublicensable nature of the license creates compliance obligations for organizations that distribute Maps-integrated applications through third parties or white-label partners. (3) JURISDICTION FLAGS: Intellectual property protections vary by jurisdiction. The non-transferable license may interact with applicable law on software licensing in specific jurisdictions. (4) CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Any vendor contract that involves sublicensing Maps API capabilities to third parties requires careful review against this provision. White-label and OEM arrangements may require separate Google agreements. (5) COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Legal teams should audit any third-party distribution arrangements for Maps-integrated products to confirm they do not constitute sublicensing in violation of this provision.

Full compliance analysis

Regulatory citations, enforcement risk, and due diligence action items.

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Applicable regulations

DMA
European Union
DSA
European Union

Provision details

Document information
Document
Google Maps Platform Terms of Service
Entity
Google Maps
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 10, 2026
Last verified
May 10, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-008821
Document ID
CA-D-00324
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
be113b6e68b6e70025d595d2449d39dea9fb2e34a7c527a908cfcd8561e412ac
Analysis generated
May 10, 2026 11:22 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Google Maps
Document: Google Maps Platform Terms of Service
Record ID: CA-P-008821
Captured: 2026-05-10 11:22:37 UTC
SHA-256: be113b6e68b6e700…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/google-maps/google-maps-platform-terms-of-service/intellectual-property-and-license-grant/
Accessed: July 4, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Google Maps's Intellectual Property and License Grant clause do?

The license is strictly limited and non-transferable, which means you cannot pass Maps API rights to third parties or use the APIs in ways not explicitly permitted.

How does this clause affect you?

For developers, this clause means the license to use Maps APIs is tightly controlled by Google and cannot be shared or transferred, which limits partnership and white-label arrangements.

How many platforms have this type of clause?

ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 7 platforms. See the full comparison.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Google Maps?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Google Maps.