# Use of Google Earth Images

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-google-earth-images/498038>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 29, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-google-earth-images/498038 "2009-05-29T16:43:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mudz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/97f17d/32.png) [@Mudz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudz)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-google-earth-images/498038/1 "2009-05-29T16:43:40Z")

</div>

Does Google own the images found in its application Google Earth?

According to the help section of the website [http://earth.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=21422:](http://earth.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=21422:)

> [@](#):
>
> We’re flattered to hear that you’re further incorporating Google Earth into your online world. You can personally use an image from the application (for example on your website, on a blog or in a word document) as long as you preserve the copyrights and attributions including the Google logo attribution. _ **However, you cannot sell these to others, provide them as part of a service, or use them in a commercial product such as a book or TV show** _ without first getting a rights clearance from Google.

(emphasis mine)  
What if I want to place the images in a TV show that isn’t for commercial purposes? The TV station is Non-Profit, and the program is considered Educational. I certainly would include a graphic attributing the image to Google, but what does it mean that I preserve the copyright?

Thanks for your help.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-google-earth-images/498038/2 "2009-05-29T18:05:58Z")

</div>

> [@Mudz](#):
>
> What if I want to place the images in a TV show that isn’t for commercial purposes? The TV station is Non-Profit, and the program is considered Educational. I certainly would include a graphic attributing the image to Google, but what does it mean that I preserve the copyright?
> 
> Thanks for your help.

You still need the clearance. They’re not concerned with whether your station is non-profit or not, what they’re trying to says is simply that you don’t need their permission to include an image of your neighborhood in a party invitation (for example).

I suspect that they won’t balk at what you want to do, but the first step is to fill out the online form and ask.