Are maps made in "Google My Maps" usable with creator's permission?

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A local charity has created a map of a local cycle route using Google My Maps.

The route on the ground was originally created and signed by the local council, but they no longer have the funds to maintain it.

I’m confident the charity would give permission to include the route in OSM (much of it is there already).

If they did, could I use the linked map as a source? Or is it infected with Google data?

Google say “Map data (c) Google”: to me that implies only the base map, with the green line licensable by the creator.

Thanks.

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I think that to be extra careful, you should ask the charity for the original GPX or kml. You can then upload it to OSM and base your relation on it and make a note in the wiki about the permission.

On the ground survey, based on the markings, would be best, no licence issue, and you may find that the online version is not accurate anyway (it happens a lot around my place).

Regards.

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I’ll start off by not answering the question: if the route is actually signposted you could just jump on a bicycle and survey the whole thing easily in half a day. No permission, no google, or anything required.

Then as long as you don’t use geometry from google IMHO you should be in the clear, think of it as the council giving you a list of segments, “follow road A from junction x to road B, …” as long as the roads / paths exist in OSM you are not using google.

Back to my non-answer, the question is naturally, is it still signposted and will it remain so for long enough to justify adding it to OSM in the 1st place.

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It’s already in OSM and has been since 2009:

The green line is traced from the basemap so unfortunately is infected with Google’s copyright.

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There are some sections - the ‘spokes’ - that are not yet in OSM. That’s what I want to add.

I can certainly survey it - good idea.

Some signs are still up for sure. Even if not wholly signed (eg, if PECT have found more pressing things to do), I think there’s a case for it being in the map anyway. It’s an extremely well-known local artefact, and I think we include customary knowledge, if asking locals would verify the ground-truth?

The council / PECT promised it would get a facelift last year (ie, new signage). In the process the half-decent PDF map seems to have disappeared altogether.

My long-term aim is to print some paper maps (probably using uMap to produce them; thoughts welcome) and get them sponsored by a local bike shop.

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There are some sections - the ‘spokes’ - that are not yet in OSM. That’s what I want to add.

Ah, gotcha.

Some signs are still up for sure. Even if not wholly signed (eg, if PECT have found more pressing things to do), I think there’s a case for it being in the map anyway.

The classic thing to do here is fix reality by putting new signs up :wink:

(I’m not even joking - your local campaign can probably get Sustrans WWCT-style blue stickers, and the council will probably be happy to permit them assuming they’re just a nominally interim replacement for permanent signage that has gone missing.)

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" Your Content in Google Maps. Content you upload, submit, store, send, or receive through Google Maps is subject to Google’s Terms of Service" Google Maps Additional Terms of Service – Google
Thus the same logic. There’s a further possibility you aren’t allowed to use it via Google My Maps including with real original creator’s permission. It has to use eg Google Maps Platform (not the mass market consumer-grade Google Maps).

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