Google Flex

The AP describes some of the useful amateur sites set up by people playing with Google's maps. It also notes the company's attitude towards the add-ons, which for now at least seems pretty enlightened:

Geeks, tinkerers and innovators are crashing the Google party, having discovered how to tinker with the search engine's mapping service to graphically illustrate vital information that might otherwise be ignored, overlooked or not perceived as clearly….

All these sites are operating without Google's permission, clearly violating the company's user agreement. But none charges any fees, and Mountain View-based Google, which declined to comment through a spokesman, has made no effort to shut them down.

"Why would they?" asks Kenneth Tan, who works for a Chicago-based media research firm and is relying on Housingmaps.com to find a new place in New York. "This is fantastic publicity for the company."

[Via Kent Lassman.]

Update: Sigh. The good times might already be over.

Comments

[Stretch]

Huh, I wish I had that housingmaps.com two weeks ago. I wonder how long before Google cracks down on this. Sure, it's great pub right now, but you have to think that in the future they'll want to at least license the map tech.

[David]

And I just saw this over on the "Google Maps Wallpaper" site:

The Google Maps team recently noticed your Google Maps tile "stitcher" wallpaper maker at http://gmerge.2ni.net/. Google is always happy
to see developers interested in our products and we commend you on the service. That said, we would appreciate it if you voluntarily remove
your service and stop using Google Maps on your web site. The service violates the Maps Terms of Service available at http://www.google.com/help/terms_local.html, and jeopardizes our ability to make Google Maps available to the public because it encourages non-personal use of Google Maps.

If you have any questions or concerns, or if we have contacted the wrong people, please feel free to contact me directly. Otherwise, please let us know as soon as possible when the service has been
removed.

Thanks,

Bret Taylor
Product Manager, Google Maps

David
AgnostoLibertarianTechnoGeek
http://ddhead.blogspot.com

[Ironchef]

So if these Google Hacks do not make money (selling, renting) their mapping/hacking services/information based on Google Maps,

but

if their web sites generate more ad revenue based on increased hits from said services, is that acceptable to us?

[Jesse Walker]

Sigh. Thanks for the info, David.

I just posted an update.

[Steve Brecher]

Google maps have a a copyright notice in favor of NAVTEQ and Tele Atlas. That may restrict Google's options.

[Eric the .5b]

That has to be the nicest cease-and-desist letter I've ever seen.