Using Google Maps tile layers: Violation to Google ToS?
<p>I've recently bumped into this answer on SO:</p>

<p><a href="https://stackoverflow.com/a/32391908/3854787">https://stackoverflow.com/a/32391908/3854787</a></p>

<p>It shows a way to use the Google Maps tile layers using a direct - probably internal - API.
It is followed by some comments stating that this is a violation of Google's terms of service. I'll transcribe them here, in case they get deleted:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Its maybe worth mentioning that the Terms of Use from Google forbid any means of tile access other than through the Google Maps API.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>and</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><a href="https://developers.google.com/maps/terms" rel="nofollow noreferrer">developers.google.com/maps/terms</a> check out section 10.4e.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Section 10.4e of the ToS states:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>No use of Content with a non-Google map. You must not use the Content in a Maps API Implementation that contains a non-Google map.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>To me, this sounds more like: I can't use content available in the Google Maps API (such as geolocation, markers/labels for bussinesses and such) in another maps implementation (Such as, for example, OpenStreetMaps).</p>

<p>Am I wrong? If I'm right, is there any other clause preventing use of the tile layers in this way?</p>

<p>Since I'm no expert, I can't know for sure if I'm right about clause <strong>10.4 e</strong>, but I found another clause that makes this question irrelevant in this case:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>10.1 a:</strong> <em>No access to APIs or Content except through the Service.</em> You will not access the Maps API(s) or the Content except through the Service. <strong>For example, you must not access map tiles or imagery through interfaces or channels (including undocumented Google interfaces) other than the Maps API(s)</strong>.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><em>(Emphasis mine)</em></p>

<p>This clause is more specific to this use case, and expressly forbids such use of Google Maps content. And luckily for me, the included example emphasized basically answers this question.</p>

terms-of-service