licensing public-domain publishing product-liability
Do objects in the public view need licencing?
<p>I would like to create a game that would use Google Street maps to build a map for gaming. Can pictures or video be obtained from Google maps to produce a game? </p>

<p>Google maps already blur signs and such. Can billboards and such in the game be reproduced without acquiring permission? What permissions might I need?</p>

<p><a href="https://gamedev.stackexchange.com/questions/168615/google-street-view-racing-game">https://gamedev.stackexchange.com/questions/168615/google-street-view-racing-game</a></p>

<p><a href="https://law.stackexchange.com/questions/1185/google-maps-licensing?rq=1">Google Maps Licensing</a>
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/4ZSPI.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/4ZSPI.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>You can take pictures of public buildings and use them in your game, if you want. You cannot copy pictures (of anything) taken by someone else without the copyright owner's permission, so you need Google's permission to copy their photographs. The public building exception is specifically about architectural works and does not include e.g. murals drawn on buildings, or billboards. In such a case, you would need permission from the copyright holder (the artist, or employer). You might hope for a fair use exception (again, assuming you took the pictures yourself), which has a better chance of succeeding if this is a free game. </p>
