Re: Mapping APIs for use in Cocoa app
Re: Mapping APIs for use in Cocoa app
- Subject: Re: Mapping APIs for use in Cocoa app
- From: Darren Wheatley <email@hidden>
- Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2010 18:51:27 +0100
Hi,
Since my original posting I have found (as you note) that there are two
sets of Ts&Cs: one for (iPhone / Map Kit) and one for other apps. The
restrictions appear different, and so I have emailed the Google Premier
API team for guidance.
My interpretation of the terms for non-iphone apps is that if the use of
mapping functionality is withheld from certain users (e.g. by the
charging of a fee, or if one were to distribute internally within an
organisation and not publically) then a Premier API licence is required.
The terms don't appear to treat web apps and desktop apps differently
(see http://code.google.com/apis/maps/faq.html - Can I use Google Maps
in my non-Web application?).
This is only my interpretation and not legal advice.
For reference:
http://code.google.com/apis/maps/terms.html
<http://www.google.com/url?sa=D&q=http://code.google.com/apis/maps/terms.html&usg=AFQjCNEiVPhQzTs1BSZaKX-oLPUKDSrFHw>
vs
http://code.google.com/apis/maps/iphone/terms.html
<http://www.google.com/url?sa=D&q=http://code.google.com/apis/maps/iphone/terms.html&usg=AFQjCNEtYTNeO0OY6t_2dAB1YGs11qASRg>
I'll post to the list if and when I get advice from the Google Premier
API team.
Thanks for taking the time to post.
Regards
Darren.
On 26/10/2010 16:28, Conrad Shultz wrote:
Can you show where in the iOS API agreement this is stated? There
would be many apps that violate it by using MapKit, I would think, if
that is the case.
While certain activities (e.g. geocoding and route finding) have
special restrictions, the controlling section would appear to be 10.4:
"Except as explicitly permitted in Section 7, you must not (nor
may you permit anyone else to)... charge users or any other
third party any incremental fee solely for the use of the Maps
API Implementation, the Service, or the Content, unless you have
entered into a separate written agreement with Google or
obtained Google's written permission
<http://www.google.com/enterprise/maps/> to do so (but if you
are a consultant who creates or hosts Maps API Implementations
for third party customers, you may charge such customers a fee
for your consulting or hosting services)"
That certainly doesn't sound like it forbids all commercial
applications, but then again I am not a lawyer (and this is not legal
advice). I also note that you are evidently based in the UK, so there
may be rules of which I am unaware.
That said, there are significant wording changes in the non-iOS terms
(http://code.google.com/apis/maps/terms.html) that may well restrict
commercial use. However, I get the impression that these are designed
for web apps/sites, not desktop apps, so you might want to ask Google
(developer relations, not the search engine).
In particular, I'm curious how they handle something like a free
application that displays a pin on a map to show a house you have
purchased. Such would not charge for access, but use is contingent on
having paid an unrelated fee.
But this is now quite far afield from cocoa-dev.
--
Conrad Shultz
www.synthetiqsolutions.com <http://www.synthetiqsolutions.com>
On Oct 26, 2010, at 3:10, Darren Wheatley
<email@hidden <mailto:email@hidden>>
wrote:
Hi,
I'm building a Mac / iPad app that displays simple maps to the user
(map with location pin, allowing the user to pan and zoom).
This is pretty easy to do with Google Maps, but AFAIK the API Ts&Cs
prevent use in a commercial application unless a Google Premier API
licence is purchased (£Ks).
The cost of this means I can't use Google Maps in my application.
Can anyone suggest an alternative mapping API for my app please (or
correct my understanding of the Google Ts&Cs if I'm wrong)?
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