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In Google and Yahoo Maps API, I read in th terms of service:

YOU SHALL NOT: "store or allow end users to store map imagery, map data or geocoded location information from the Yahoo! Maps APIs for any future use;"

My problem and scope of my project is to build a real estate website. The user who posts an ad for selling his/her house will be able to write the house's address, or point it directly into a map. Then I would save that latitude/longitude data to a mysql database so I can retrieve it later when a new user will be looking for a house for sale.

Is this the correct procedure? How does that relate with the terms above? I mean, how can a geocoding system be useful if I cannot store a simple latitude/longitude?

Francesco
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  • Related: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/158474/how-to-obtain-longitude-and-latitude-for-a-street-address-programmatically-and-l – payne Feb 02 '11 at 04:07

3 Answers3

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As far as I can tell, you are not supposed to store any Geocoded data from Google into a database. I have the same problem on a Drupal site. The module I'm using stores latitude and longitude data in the database. If you look at the terms of service referenced on the page jmort253 pointed to in his answer, you'll find this:

(from https://developers.google.com/maps/terms#section_10_1_3)

10.1.3 Restrictions against Data Export or Copying.

(a) No Unauthorized Copying, Modification, Creation of Derivative Works, or Display of the Content. You must not copy, translate, modify, or create a derivative work (including creating or contributing to a database) of, or publicly display any Content or any part thereof except as explicitly permitted under these Terms. For example, the following are prohibited: (i) creating server-side modification of map tiles; (ii) stitching multiple static map images together to display a map that is larger than permitted in the Maps APIs Documentation; (iii) creating mailing lists or telemarketing lists based on the Content; or (iv) exporting, writing, or saving the Content to a third party's location-based platform or service.

(b) No Pre-Fetching, Caching, or Storage of Content. You must not pre-fetch, cache, or store any Content, except that you may store: (i) limited amounts of Content for the purpose of improving the performance of your Maps API Implementation if you do so temporarily, securely, and in a manner that does not permit use of the Content outside of the Service; and (ii) any content identifier or key that the Maps APIs Documentation specifically permits you to store. For example, you must not use the Content to create an independent database of "places" or other local listings information.

(c) No Mass Downloads or Bulk Feeds of Content. You must not use the Service in a manner that gives you or any other person access to mass downloads or bulk feeds of any Content, including but not limited to numerical latitude or longitude coordinates, imagery, visible map data, or places data (including business listings). For example, you are not permitted to offer a batch geocoding service that uses Content contained in the Maps API(s).

Parts b and c really make it sound like what you and I are trying to do is a no-no. Am I reading this wrong?

tmsimont
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    For Google Maps, it sounds like it's ok to cache latitude and longitude, so long as the cache is temporary. (10.1.3.b.i) – jeffmaher Nov 20 '12 at 01:42
  • Adding onto comment here by @plusjeff, and I don't have the actual reference for this so I'm paraphrasing from memory here, but I believe they do insist/want you to "expire" cached entries after some certain threshold of time and re-geocode them... – Funka Jan 09 '13 at 20:29
  • From what I've understood after searching around, the important piece here is 'Content'. Latitude/longitude and addresses do not fall under this terms. 'Content' refers to more Google-specific information, like their map tiles, or 3d imagery. Again, from what I've read, you can't restrict/copyright addresses and lat/long information, so you are free to store that information. – user3308043 Aug 04 '14 at 01:54
  • Updated: https://developers.google.com/maps/terms Section 10.5.d "No caching or storage. You will not pre-fetch, cache, index, or store any Content to be used outside the Service..." – Nhan Jul 14 '16 at 00:03
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Google doesn't appear to have this restriction that you speak of. The Google Geocoding API website actually suggests caching or storing the content to reduce hits to their servers and improve performance.

As far as addresses go, your users are entering them, so you can store the addresses. The latitudes/longitudes can be retrieved from the Google Maps API service using those addresses.

It's okay to cache the results, so you'll only need to really look them up during the first search.

jamesmortensen
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Geocoding refers to the reversal of the address from Lat / Long coordinates. You could have the person entering the address specify it, and store the lat / long coords into the database for later use (returned from Google or Yahoo Maps API).

Kevin Parker
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