Map Animation Commercial Use and Attribution FAQ

Plan details come from animaps.ai/pricing on the "Last updated" date above.

Can you use an Animaps video in a monetised YouTube video, an ad or a client project? Yes, if you export it through the official render. This page explains what the terms say about commercial use, map data credits and the watermark, in plain words.

TL;DR

Short version: You own the animations you make. You can use exported videos for commercial and public work, such as monetised YouTube videos, ads, client projects and TV. Three rules apply. First, only exported videos count: screen recordings of the preview are not allowed. Second, the map data credit (for example "© OpenStreetMap contributors") stays on the video; do not crop it, blur it or cover it. Third, Free exports carry a small Animaps watermark, and paid plans remove it. The watermark and the map credit are two different things.

Quick links:

Who Owns the Video?

You do. The terms say: "You retain ownership of any animations, videos, or other content you create using the Service." Animaps gets a limited licence to store and show your content, so the service can work.

The map data and the software stay with their owners. You own your animation, not the map of the world under it. That is why the map credit stays on screen.

Can I Use It Commercially?

Yes, through the official export. The terms say: "Only animations rendered through the official render feature may be used for commercial or public purposes."

Commercial use includes:

What Is Not Allowed

The terms list a few things you must not do.

The Map Data Credit

Every map is built from data made by other people. Animaps uses, among others, OpenStreetMap, GeoNames, geoBoundaries, the European Commission JRC Global Human Settlement Layer, Natural Earth, OpenHistoricalMap for historical borders, and Esri and CARTO base maps. The terms list them in the "Map Tiles & Data" section.

Some of these licences require a credit wherever the map is shown in public. The OpenStreetMap credit, "© OpenStreetMap contributors", is the best known.

Animaps handles this in two ways:

What you must do: leave the on-screen credit visible. The terms say you agree "not to remove, obscure, or modify required map attributions in the Service or in any exported outputs."

In practice:

The Animaps Watermark

The watermark is the Animaps logo. It is not a legal credit, it is part of the Free plan.

Your Own Uploads

If you upload your own material, such as an image or an icon, you must have the rights to it. The terms also say you stay responsible for its licence and its credits. If you upload a photo from a stock site, follow that site's licence.

Common Questions From Creators

Can I monetise a YouTube video that uses an Animaps map? Yes, if the map was exported through the official render and the map credit is visible.

Do I need to credit Animaps? The terms do not ask you to credit Animaps in your video. The map data credit must stay on screen. Many creators also add "Map: Animaps" in the description, which helps viewers find the tool.

Can I sell a video I made for a client? Yes. You own the animation. Your client can publish it, with the map credit visible.

Can I put the map in a paid course? Yes. A course is a commercial use, and exported videos can be used for commercial purposes.

Can I screen record the preview to save credits? No. The terms forbid recording the preview. Exporting is the only way to get a video you can publish.

Does the map credit show on a GIF? The on-screen credit is drawn on the frames, so it shows in a GIF too. The full source list in the file's metadata is written into MP4 files.

Where is the full list of data sources? In the Terms of Service, under "Map Tiles & Data".

For a full walk through the tool, read how to create map animations for YouTube.

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