It is very easy to tap on any online image and save it. Never the less it is not okay to upload such downloaded photos to Google Maps. Also, screenshots are considered an infringement on copyrights. Simply put: if you didn't take the original photo yourself, don’t upload it!"

Google is very concerned about this issue. When you flag photos on Google Maps or report copyright issues on Connect Googles staff usually take swift action.

I once stumbled upon a Maps user who had uploaded several thousand photos. He probably believed he was being helpful and doing a good thing, but all "his" photos were stolen from Tripadvisor.com or from some stock photo sites. He was kicked out and his contributions were deleted.

Find relevant quotes from Google's official statements about copyrights here. Scroll down and open the photo rules:

9: No stolen or downloaded pics,

10: No pics of pics, and

11: No screenshots.

Sorry for not showing a lot of examples on this page! Guess why ;-)

How to deal with this issue

If this issue is news to you, please check all your photos on google maps, and delete the ones that you did not take yourself. I know it's not fun to lose a lot of points and views, but I think it is better than losing access to our accounts.

From now on: Only upload photos you took yourself.

The next issue is about how you should avoid distractions in your photos. And I can assure you that all the photos on the next page are mine! Hit "Suggested next page".