Question

Can I use Google maps on public websites?

Are there any licensing / copyright issues?

Answer 1

From the Google Maps Terms of Service (see especially Sections 9 and 10), you can use Google Maps on a public web site. The biggest requirements are that the application is publicly available for free, and that you include the Google Maps logo on the map.

From Section 9:

9.1.1 General Rules.

(a) Free Access (No Fees). Your Maps API Implementation must be
generally accessible to users without charge and must not require a
fee-based subscription or other fee-based restricted access. This rule
applies to Your Content and any other content in your Maps API
Implementation, whether Your Content or the other content is in
existence now or is added later.

(b) Public Access (No Firewall). Your Maps API implementation must not
(i) operate only behind a firewall; or (ii) only on an internal
network (except during the development and testing phase); or (iii) in
a closed community (for example, through invitation-only access).

From section 9.4:

9.4 Attribution.

(b) You agree to include and display the “powered by Google”
attribution (and/or any other attribution(s) required by Google as
described in the Maps APIs Documentation) conspicuously on the page,
in close proximity and adjacent to the Service search box and Google
search results. If you use the standard Google search control, or the
standard Google search control form, this attribution will be included
automatically, and you agree not to modify or obscure this
automatically-generated attribution.

Obviously, you and your attorney need to look over the rest of the terms as well to determine if you’re willing to accept them.