Legal Question in Business Law in California

Is it against Google's TOU to embed them into a Real Estate blog

Is it against Google's TOU to embed their maps they make available at maps.google with the ''Link to this page'' into a Real Estate blog? The blog contains posts about my local area (restaurants, schools, etc.) and I would like to use the ''Link to this page'' that Google provides on their maps to embed local area maps into the Blog. The blog is completely free, sells nothing and is solely informational about the local area. However the blog owner (creator) is a Real Estate Agent and there are sections on the blog (about page, contact info) that discuss the Real Estate Agents services. The embedded maps used will not be restributed in any type of commerical application and will only be added to the local area information blog posts to enhance the blog posts about that area. Google map terms state they can only be used for ''non-commercial use only''. Would the informational, local area blog I described above be considered commercial use in Googles eyes? The maps will not be commercially redistributed but rather compliment informational pages about the local area. Because the blog belongs to a Real Estate Agent is that considered commercial use? Or is commercial use when the maps are used in a redistributed app?


Asked on 7/05/08, 6:05 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

Re: Is it against Google's TOU to embed them into a Real Estate blog

You seem to be asking for a formal legal opinion, which is more than this site is designed to provide. Even if I wanted to give you such an opinion, I would need to know a lot more about your blog. I suggest either sending your question directly to Google or arranging a consultation with a lawyer near you.

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Answered on 7/05/08, 6:14 pm


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