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The Staff of SOH
Modders using Google Maps data to make MSFS look better
- Thread starter CybrSlydr
- Start date
Google will end up shutting them down. Their EULA specifically prohibits extracting data for any purpose. You could get away with it if you did it for yourself without the data leaving your PC, but redistribution is going to get people in trouble.
They may hesitate, it's good publicity for them and bad for Bing maps, lol.
I thought FSX was the original location. I wasn't going to step on Stovall's toes, but since you posted this, I'll go ahead and slide it over.
Last edited by a moderator:
It was??? lmfao Whoops. My mistake!
I honestly don't know - that's where it was the first time I saw it. Someone used the report function to let the admins know it might be in the wrong spot, but like I said, I wasn't going to step on toes. I usually just hit here, Newshawks, and the Cantina, plus the admin sections when I'm online, so I never would have seen it otherwise. At least it's sorted now! 
FlyingsCool
SOH-CM-2019
Most of the mods out there for scenery are Google data. Google's not doing anything about it, and I've read elsewhere that using it is ok per the EULA. I'm not a lawyer so I can't comment either way, but people have been using Google map data in FS products since the '90's I think, when SBuilder first came out?
Thanks Tom for the help with proper forum. You are doing a great job over at MSFS 2020.
hubbabubba
Charter Member
Just verified this;
https://www.google.com/intl/en_ca/help/terms_maps/
And I don't see anything prohibiting the use of Google Maps for the specific of creating sceneries from their data.
Quite to the contrary, sub-section b. of section 1. reads;
"License. As long as you follow these Terms, the Google Terms of Service give you a license to use Google Maps/Google Earth, including features that allow you to:
(...)
create KML files and map layers (...)"
The scenery process is basically a map layering for the purpose of modeling ground objects.
Intellectual property was not my field of expertise (criminal and penal law was), but I see no infrigment. Adding the mention that Google Maps or Google Earth was used in the making in the documentation won't hurt...
https://www.google.com/intl/en_ca/help/terms_maps/
And I don't see anything prohibiting the use of Google Maps for the specific of creating sceneries from their data.
Quite to the contrary, sub-section b. of section 1. reads;
"License. As long as you follow these Terms, the Google Terms of Service give you a license to use Google Maps/Google Earth, including features that allow you to:
(...)
create KML files and map layers (...)"
The scenery process is basically a map layering for the purpose of modeling ground objects.
Intellectual property was not my field of expertise (criminal and penal law was), but I see no infrigment. Adding the mention that Google Maps or Google Earth was used in the making in the documentation won't hurt...
FlyingsCool
SOH-CM-2019
Actually, what people are doing these days is downloading the Google Maps 3D data and constructing photogrammetry models, or using them as the basis for handcrafted models, all using blender or 3DMax.
Easily bring in Google Maps Photogrammetry Data into Flight Simulator 2020 with Google Earth Decoder
But what you said about the terms corroborates with what I've read other people say about the terms. And yes, I see people say where they got the data from in there releases.
Spook48
SOH-CM-2025
I made some scenery for my hometown (Utrecht) and shared them at : flightsim.to
This is the story i wrote under the download :
File credits
This free creation contains content from Google Maps or Google Earth. In accordance with Google Terms of Services and especially point 2.2 of Google Maps/Google Earth Additional Terms of Service, this creation is based on « fair use » or « fair dealing » of the data provided by google throught its services. No commercial use or any gain is or will ever be made by the author of this creation, who doesn’t own anything regarding google assets but a simple user Licence. According to the following document https://www.google.com/intl/en-GB/permissions/geoguidelines/, the author is freely sharing a creative application of Google Maps or Google Earth. The author will not recieve any form of retribution for sharing his work, even general donations from users of file hosting web services under the form of « rewards » or « tips ». If this content would be found somewhere where it is provided in exchange of money or any kind of retribution, I wouldn’t be with the consent of the author who will stick to strict free content creation diffusion.Part of this content including 3d data and textures is copyrighted by
Imagery ©2020 Google, Imagery ©2020 CNES/ Airbus, Maxar Technologies,
USDA Farm Service Agency, Map data ©2020 Google.
This is the story i wrote under the download :
File credits
This free creation contains content from Google Maps or Google Earth. In accordance with Google Terms of Services and especially point 2.2 of Google Maps/Google Earth Additional Terms of Service, this creation is based on « fair use » or « fair dealing » of the data provided by google throught its services. No commercial use or any gain is or will ever be made by the author of this creation, who doesn’t own anything regarding google assets but a simple user Licence. According to the following document https://www.google.com/intl/en-GB/permissions/geoguidelines/, the author is freely sharing a creative application of Google Maps or Google Earth. The author will not recieve any form of retribution for sharing his work, even general donations from users of file hosting web services under the form of « rewards » or « tips ». If this content would be found somewhere where it is provided in exchange of money or any kind of retribution, I wouldn’t be with the consent of the author who will stick to strict free content creation diffusion.Part of this content including 3d data and textures is copyrighted by
Imagery ©2020 Google, Imagery ©2020 CNES/ Airbus, Maxar Technologies,
USDA Farm Service Agency, Map data ©2020 Google.
I guess I was mistaken about what I thought I'd seen concerning Google's policy. Hopefully someone can find a way to get some of these massive packages condensed to a more manageable size. There's one out there that enhances Toronto, but having it loaded makes the sim take twice as long to load a flight - at least on my rig.
hubbabubba
Charter Member
That is why I'm staying very lean in the Community folder. I've tried the "Skyscraper" and "Trees" mod/patch. The latter is gone and the former will. I suppose that we could create a back-up community folder and go pick what we need for the day.
but they may react if they see a possibility to make money
the done it with their map services already this is why nearly any VA is now using open street map
Can't see any satellite view in OpenStreetMap, which is a must for scenery making.
The day Foogle (Google Flight Simulator - one can dream
) is annouced, we may have a change in the terms and conditions, but this can't be retroactive and, as far as I can read in my crystal ball, not to come in near future.