Google gives you a narrow, revocable license to use Maps APIs only for building and running your specific application — you cannot transfer, resell, or sub-license the API access to anyone else.
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
This provision establishes the scope and boundaries of permitted use by defining the license as limited and revocable, restricting users to specified purposes and prohibiting transfer or sublicensing of the granted rights. The revocable nature allows Google to terminate the license subject to the Terms' modification and termination provisions.
Businesses cannot sublicense or transfer their Maps API rights, meaning in a merger, acquisition, or partnership, the new entity must establish its own Google Maps Platform agreement — which could disrupt services during transitions.
How other platforms handle this
Taskrabbit grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable and revocable license to (a) access and use the Platform [...] Failure to provide and maintain updated and accurate information may result in your inability to use the Platform and/or Taskrabbit's termination of this Agreement with you...
Consensys reserves the right to change, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Services at any time, including hours of operation or availability of the Service or any feature, without notice and without liability.
We may update these terms and conditions at any time by giving you 30 days' notice. If you do not agree to the changes, you can close your account before the changes take effect. If you do not close your account, we will take this to mean that you accept the changes.
Monitoring
Google Maps has changed this document before.
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"Google grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, royalty-free, revocable license to use the APIs solely to develop, test, and operate your Maps API Implementation in accordance with these Terms and the Maps documentation.— Excerpt from Google Maps's Google Maps Platform Terms of Service
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: License restrictions engage copyright law (17 U.S.C. § 106 exclusive rights of reproduction and distribution), trade secret law where API keys constitute access credentials, and M&A legal frameworks (Hart-Scott-Rodino Act considerations where API dependencies affect deal value). The non-sublicensable restriction may implicate EU Software Directive 2009/24/EC Art. 5 regarding legitimate users' rights.
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This provision establishes the scope and boundaries of permitted use by defining the license as limited and revocable, restricting users to specified purposes and prohibiting transfer or sublicensing of the granted rights. The revocable nature allows Google to terminate the license subject to the Terms' modification and termination provisions.
Businesses cannot sublicense or transfer their Maps API rights, meaning in a merger, acquisition, or partnership, the new entity must establish its own Google Maps Platform agreement — which could disrupt services during transitions.
No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Google Maps.