Mining Google Web Services: Building Applications with the Google API

This section discusses display issues, such as how you can present Google Web Services information in your application. The important consideration in this section is that Google realizes that you want to add value to the content, but they also have to maintain the integrity of the content they supply to you.

Selecting a Formatting Method

You can display the data in any format you choose so long as you don't break one of the rules in this agreement. For example, you can display text in bold or in an odd font if you want, but you have to follow the rules for using text.

Altering the Text

Some Google content gets rather long and you might not be able to display all of the text on one page of your Web site. You can shorten the text as needed to make it easier to display. However, you can't change the text. You can remove formatting, such as the HTML formatting codes, but you can't modify the text in such a way that the content is altered .

Leaving Proprietary Information in Place

Google will provide the copyright and trademark symbols with their content as needed. You must leave these symbols in place. The same holds true for any notices or other identifying information. There really isn't a good reason to modify any of this information.

Getting Written Permission to Use the Google Logo

As long as you follow all of the rules that Google provides, you can tell other people that your application uses Google. In fact, Google encourages you to mention that you've used Google Web Services to develop your application. It's free advertising and any good business knows that advertising promotes more activity. However, you can't use the Google logo without written permission.

Although the licensing agreement doesn't provide a reason for this action, Google likely wants to ensure that any application containing their logo meets high standards and represents Google Web Services well. Whatever the reason, adding the Google logo to your application can attract additional interest. If you plan to create a public application similar to those listed in Appendix A, you'll probably want to seek Google's written permission to use their logo.