Removing Google watermark

[Mark Wyszomierski]

Hi,

I've been using the static map image API to download multiple tiles,
then stitch them together to make one complete larger map. This is for
mobile devices where we need to download the map in small chunks).

The problem for me is that every single tile has the google watermark
in it, which gets annoying when your tiles are 128x128 pixels.

Does google have some kind of deal where they could remove the water
mark for my application key, then I put a single watermark back in the
lower left corner of the stiched together map myself?

I don't mind the watermark, just having one on every tile makes the
map difficult to use.

I'm planning on opening the source to this project once I find out
about the water mark, it's a nice library for displaying maps on j2me
devices and supports lat,lons (instead of raw tile indeces like other
libs),

Thanks,
Mark

[String]

Hi Mark,

Well, you COULD download slightly larger tiles and crop the Google
logo off all but the lower-left one. But it sure sounds dodgy to me
from an API legal standpoint - I wouldn't be surprised if your
application is already in violation of the API in letter, if not in
spirit.

AFAIK, the only way to wrangle any special treatment from G is with a
Premier API license. That certainly opens the door to some activities
that are prohibited with the free API, but I'm not at all sure if what
you're suggesting would fly. Best bet would be to contact Google's
Premier licensing department and ask.

Good luck!

String

Post by Mark Wyszomierski
Hi,
I've been using the static map image API to download multiple tiles,
then stitch them together to make one complete larger map. This is for
mobile devices where we need to download the map in small chunks).
The problem for me is that every single tile has the google watermark
in it, which gets annoying when your tiles are 128x128 pixels.
Does google have some kind of deal where they could remove the water
mark for my application key, then I put a single watermark back in the
lower left corner of the stiched together map myself?
I don't mind the watermark, just having one on every tile makes the
map difficult to use.
I'm planning on opening the source to this project once I find out
about the water mark, it's a nice library for displaying maps on j2me
devices and supports lat,lons (instead of raw tile indeces like other
libs),
Thanks,
Mark

[Mark Wyszomierski]

Ha cropping the bottom off is a great idea.

I'll try talking to their licensing department about it, if they can't
come up with some solution I'll just use yahoo or microsoft,

Thanks,
Mark

Post by String
Hi Mark,
Well, you COULD download slightly larger tiles and crop the Google
logo off all but the lower-left one. But it sure sounds dodgy to me
from an API legal standpoint - I wouldn't be surprised if your
application is already in violation of the API in letter, if not in
spirit.
AFAIK, the only way to wrangle any special treatment from G is with a
Premier API license. That certainly opens the door to some activities
that are prohibited with the free API, but I'm not at all sure if what
you're suggesting would fly. Best bet would be to contact Google's
Premier licensing department and ask.
Good luck!
String

Post by Mark Wyszomierski
Hi,
I've been using the static map image API to download multiple tiles,
then stitch them together to make one complete larger map. This is for
mobile devices where we need to download the map in small chunks).
The problem for me is that every single tile has the google watermark
in it, which gets annoying when your tiles are 128x128 pixels.
Does google have some kind of deal where they could remove the water
mark for my application key, then I put a single watermark back in the
lower left corner of the stiched together map myself?
I don't mind the watermark, just having one on every tile makes the
map difficult to use.
I'm planning on opening the source to this project once I find out
about the water mark, it's a nice library for displaying maps on j2me
devices and supports lat,lons (instead of raw tile indeces like other
libs),
Thanks,
Mark- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

[warden [Andrew Leach - Maps API Guru]]

Post by Mark Wyszomierski
Ha cropping the bottom off is a great idea.

It would be if...

See http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Maps-API/msg/520ab9ae5f70e89b

[t***@gmail.com]

Check also j2map, you'll have a j2me library to display maps
http://j2memap.8motions.com

Regards,

Post by Mark Wyszomierski
Hi,
I've been using the static map image API to download multiple tiles,
then stitch them together to make one complete larger map. This is for
mobile devices where we need to download the map in small chunks).
The problem for me is that every single tile has the google watermark
in it, which gets annoying when your tiles are 128x128 pixels.
Does google have some kind of deal where they could remove the water
mark for my application key, then I put a single watermark back in the
lower left corner of the stiched together map myself?
I don't mind the watermark, just having one on every tile makes the
map difficult to use.
I'm planning on opening the source to this project once I find out
about the water mark, it's a nice library for displaying maps onj2me
devices and supports lat,lons (instead of raw tile indeces like other
libs),
Thanks,
Mark