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

Intellectual Property and License Grant

Medium severity High confidence Explicitdocumentlanguage Rare · 6 of 325 platforms
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Recent governance activity Google Maps recorded 4 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.

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

Unity Medium

You retain any and all of your rights to any content you submit, post or display on or through the Services ('User Content') and you are responsible for protecting those rights. By submitting User Content through the Services, you hereby grant to Unity a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, fully...

Shopify Medium

By submitting Content to Shopify, 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 distribution methods (now known or later deve...

Snowflake Medium

Customer grants Snowflake the right to host, copy, transmit, display, and otherwise use Customer Data and Customer Applications as reasonably necessary to provide the Services in accordance with this Agreement.

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Monitoring

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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

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: May 13, 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 6 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.