Google Maps · Google Maps Platform Terms of Service

No Competing Product Restriction

High severity
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What it is

You cannot use Google Maps APIs to build any product that would compete with Google's own mapping products, including Google Maps, Google Earth, or Waze.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Developers are prohibited from using Maps Platform data to create competing mapping products, which limits market competition and may reduce consumer choice in mapping applications long-term.

Cross-platform context

See how other platforms handle No Competing Product Restriction and similar clauses.

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Why it matters (compliance & risk perspective)

This clause limits what developers can build using Maps data and creates significant vendor lock-in — if your product relies on mapping data, you are contractually restricted from pivoting to or building a competing service.

View original clause language
You will not use the Maps API(s) to create or improve, directly or indirectly, any other mapping data or service or other product or service that competes with Google Maps, Google Earth, Waze, or any other Google product or service.

Institutional analysis (Compliance & legal intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: This clause may implicate EU competition law under Article 102 TFEU (abuse of dominant position) given Google's dominant position in digital mapping. The European Commission's enforcement of platform competition rules under the Digital Markets Act (DMA, Regulation (EU) 2022/1925, Art. 5 and 6) is directly relevant, as Google Maps is designated under the DMA. In the US, the FTC Act Section 5 and Sherman Antitrust Act Section 2 may be relevant if this clause is used to foreclose competitors. (2)

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC has jurisdiction over unfair or anticompetitive platform practices under Section 5 of the FTC Act, which may apply to exclusionary API licensing terms.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
Google Maps Platform Terms of Service
Entity
Google Maps
Document last updated
March 24, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
April 28, 2026
Last verified
April 28, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-004000
Document ID
CA-D-00324
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
d7d43c97b706df81bcb608a886eba9988cb50b384442642f9c928a5aa47175e4
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Google Maps | Document: Google Maps Platform Terms of Service | Record: CA-P-004000
Captured: 2026-04-28 10:05:02 UTC | SHA-256: d7d43c97b706df81…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/google-maps/google-maps-platform-terms-of-service/no-competing-product-restriction/
Accessed: April 29, 2026
Classification
Severity
High
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