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.
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
OpenAI references enforcement actions including account suspension, with an appeals process available at openai.com/transparency-and-content-moderation.
We may suspend or terminate your access to the Services, or close your account, at our discretion and for any reason, including if you violate these Terms. We may also terminate your access to the Services for any reason with notice to you. If we terminate your access for violating these Terms, we m...
You must be at least 13 years old to register for and use our Services on your own (or such greater age required in your country or territory). If you are under this age, your parent or guardian can create a parent-managed account for you if it is available in your country or territory.
The revocable, non-transferable nature of the license means Google can withdraw your right to use the APIs at any time, and you cannot pass those rights to partners, acquirers, or customers without Google's approval.
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.
Compliance intelligence locked
Regulatory citations, enforcement risk, and due diligence action items.
Watcher: regulatory citations. Professional: full compliance memo.