Legal Content

[Jason Hornbuckle]

Greetings. I have read the google terms of service but cannot find an answer to my specific question. 
Put simply, can use the google API's to zoom in on art work ( just like the google art project) instead of maps without any legal issue from Google, assuming

of course that I have full legal rights to the artwork in question. 

My only concern is if google has some issue with it because I am considering creating an app for a client in which they can display their artwork and I don't want do it if google is going to forbid it anytime in the future. 

[JKurtock]

I wouldn't be too surprised if you don't get an "official" answer from
Google, particularly without FULL details of exactly what you want to
do. That's why they publish the Terms of Service.

That said, I note that they provide examples of almost what you're
talking about http://code.google.com/intl/en/apis/maps/documentation/javascript/overlays.html#GroundOverlays.
and
http://code.google.com/intl/en/apis/maps/documentation/javascript/overlays.html#CustomOverlays
.
A ground overlay is, in a sense, a piece of art.

Browse section 9 of the Terms of Service. Your use case may be an
easy one, as most of the TOS limitations have to do with the use of
"content," which may be the underlying map information. As I
understand your inquiry, you will use no mapping content, only the API
with your own content.

- Jeff

[Thor Mitchell (Google Employee)]

Using the API as a viewer for non-maps content is permitted, but the requirement that the app be publicly accessible for free remains, unless you have a Maps API Premier license.

Many thanks,

Thor.