Usage of the non-premier API to build a map-based business directory

[sento]

We have been looking into the possibility of building a business directory which presents all search results on a Google Map. While our developer has very quickly come up with a working demo of this using the Google API, my concern is that using Google Maps for a business directory, without paying for the premier product, may be against Google's terms and conditions. Does anyone know if this is the case? The part of the terms which reads to me as if it bars this usage is...

No Business, Residential, or Telephone Listings Services. You must not display business listings Content in any Maps API Implementation that has the primary purpose of making available business, residential address, or telephone directory listings.

from http://code.google.com/intl/en/apis/maps/terms.html

Seems fairly clear there, but just asking in case I'm getting the wrong end of the stick.

thanks

[Andrew C Leach]

On 22 November 2011 22:54, sento <darr...@gmail.com> wrote:

> No Business, Residential, or Telephone Listings Services. You must not
> display business listings Content in any Maps API Implementation that has
> the primary purpose of making available business, residential address, or
> telephone directory listings.
>

> Seems fairly clear there, but just asking in case I'm getting the wrong end
> of the stick.

I think you're probably right.

If we look at "Content"...
- The Terms do state explicitly that "Your Content does not include
the Content", so you can't simply repackage Google's data and call it
yours. "Your Content" has to be really yours.
- The Terms also state explicitly that "Content" means any content
provided through the Service ... or any other content.

Consequently the expression "Content" *does* include your data.

This means that not only can you not re-present Google's business
listing data (which is "Content") as might be expected, you can't use
your own business listing data either because that's also classed as
"Content".

Basically, as you surmise I think, the Term is designed to prevent you
using Google's Maps to set up a competitor service.

--

Although I can interpret structured statements like the Terms and
provide an opinion, I do not provide legal advice because I am not a
lawyer. You need to consult one if you want legal advice.

[chkjim]

Aren't there lots of directories out there where you visit the individual listing page for a business and see a Google Map showing their location? This is use within a site that has the "primary purpose of making available business, residential address, or telephone directory listings" but seems to happen frequently.

[chkjim]

One of Google's examples of how to implement a map uses business listings...

http://code.google.com/apis/maps/articles/phpsqlgeocode.html

Perhaps they should put something on this page to make it clear to developers reading it that using it in this way may not actually be allowed!

[chkjim]

Here's a Joomla plugin that is aimed directly at people who want to build business directories using Google Maps...
http://www.reviewsforjoomla.com/jreviews/geomaps-addon-proximity-search-and-google-maps