The Victorian Spatial Council has released a set of guidelines for organisations on the use of geospatial data from Google Maps and Microsoft Bing Maps. 

Both Google Maps and Microsoft Bing Maps offer free and commercial licensing arrangements.

Many organisations, including government agencies, are using spatial information from the free services to support their operations and the council strongly encourages potential users to consult the terms and conditions prior to making a decision on whether and how to use such information.

The guidelines say key risks from using the free services may arise from agencies lacking control over the content displayed by Google and Microsoft and over how Google and Microsoft may use their data.

The council says agencies considering the use of the maps should also assess the costs and benefits of relying on the underlying spatial data, such as addresses or property boundaries, or imagery.

The council has also provided an easily accessible summary of the terms and conditions of using both Google maps and Bing maps.