google street view UK, enviro reference?

Ged

Hey I heard as of today that most of the uk is now on google street view. This could make pretty cool environment art reference material? or is that not legal?

for example heres my local town hall and library

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=cheltenham&sll=51.913558,-2.044342&sspn=0.002664,0.005509&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Cheltenham,+Gloucestershire,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.901422,-2.075139&spn=0.005303,0.011019&z=17&layer=c&cbll=51.902771,-2.077941&panoid=XZYB52GcV0sado5y4Dkugw&cbp=12,236.54,,0,12.32

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=cheltenham&sll=51.913558,-2.044342&sspn=0.002664,0.005509&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Cheltenham,+Gloucestershire,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.901422,-2.075139&spn=0.005303,0.011019&z=17&layer=c&cbll=51.902771,-2.077941&panoid=XZYB52GcV0sado5y4Dkugw&cbp=12,236.54,,0,12.32

bbob

How would it be illegal?

And yeah, google streetview is an incredible resource..

Ged

bbob wrote: »

How would it be illegal?

yeah its cool heh I dunno how it would be illegal maybe like if stores or companys didnt want thier buildings likeness copied. Great fun with all the new footage on there

Eric Chadwick

If you use Google's photos as textures you could run afoul with their copyright lawyers. Using them as inspiration is a different matter.

Mark Dygert

I'm sure what's protected by law is still protected by law even if its shown on goggle street view. It's probably a good rule of thumb not to copy company signs or advertising unless you have permission. Nothing stopping you from swapping in your own style or just omitting it from the environment.

I don't know why you would want to use them as textures... inspiration sure, but the quality on most street views is horrible. I can see it being used to find interesting local places to go shoot your own textures.

As for copying a buildings likeness, I think that depends on the country? I'm pretty sure its ok in most countries. A lot of real world buildings and streets get digitally recreated for TV shows and movies, and I doubt they run around getting everyone to sign release for every nondescript building that pops in a shot.

Some buildings might be more iconic and their property management company have a vested interest in seeing their properties image used appropriately. So turning your city hall into a strip club, might ruffle some old birds feathers but if you recreate it arch-vis style then I doubt anyone would care. Of course they would probably label you a terrorist for looking at public buildings and attempting to recreate them in your murder simulators... heh

gsokol

Google Street View rocks my socks for reference. I frequently find myself losing hours of my free time just searching through various cities looking at interesting builidngs/architecture/etc..


I just wish there was a way to take screenshots without having to do print screen.

xvampire

i dont think its illegal as long as u swap some label and modify it ( check out some point and click games many using real photo
of course private area are always vague, even google still get many complains by some owner who got offended

btw

now everyone can become google street guy
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k6IK4nI7RM[/ame]

Calabi

I'm pretty sure its not illegal except for the obvious the people and the signs. I dont think you'd run up against any problems with copyright because they are in the public domain, and all the pictures are taken of public areas.

But yeah its cool, I can see my house from here...erm!

Ged

sweeet! yeah I wouldnt ever use it for textures just for inspiration and reference

motives

Its not like google is owning the brands of the store on street view. If you use a H&M sign in your game you will get busted by H&M. not google.

whats_true

xvampire wrote: »

i dont think its illegal as long as u swap some label and modify it ( check out some point and click games many using real photo
of course private area are always vague, even google still get many complains by some owner who got offended

btw

now everyone can become google street guy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k6IK4nI7RM

Hmm, mount that on a helmet with a small screen inside. Could be totaly aware of your surroundings.

Eric Chadwick

My point was, Google owns the copyright to those photos. Google makes it pretty clear, see 2b.

Copying a part of Street View to use in your texture is no different from copying part of another artist's texture. It's simple professionalism in my view. If you doubt it, ask whoever employs you.

Using Street View as reference for drawing/painting/modeling, that's totally fine. No different from any other inspiration. Copying, not so much.