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Content Usage and Attribution Guide

Introduction

This guide will help you apply the Cesium ion Terms of Service, but it isn't a replacement for them. Please read them carefully.

In all cases, your organization's agreement with Cesium supersedes this guide.

Commercial use of Cesium ion and its content

See the Cesium ion Plan FAQ for guidance about what type of usage requires a paid account, including commercial use.

Using content from Cesium ion 

  • Cesium ion provides access to Cesium data assets like Cesium World Terrain and to third-party data like Google Photorealistic 3D Tiles. While you have an ion account, you may use these assets as part of software or content inside and outside your organization. This is done by streaming the data from ion to your project.
  • You may also create and publish renderings of your projects, such as videos, that include assets provided by Cesium ion. Some third-party data providers limit the use of renderings that include their data. See Third-Party Terms for details. See the Grant of License section in the Cesium ion Terms of Service for more information about Cesium's content terms.
  • If you include Cesium or third-party data assets in your software or content, you must have an active Cesium ion account. You may continue to share static materials such as a promotional video or non-interactive reports after your account is deleted or disabled.   
  • Content created from assets you uploaded to Cesium ion is yours to use as you like forever, including after you no longer have an active Cesium ion account. This includes clips created and downloaded with the Cesium ion clipping feature.

Logos

  • You must prominently display the Cesium ion logo in software or content you create with Cesium ion. 
  • Cesium’s client software, including CesiumJS, Cesium for Unreal, Cesium for Unity, and Cesium for Omniverse, correctly displays the Cesium logo. If you use other rendering software, you might need to take steps to display the logo. 
  • It’s ok to adjust the placement and presentation of the Cesium logo, but "prominent" means your users are more likely than not to see it. 

Data attribution

  • If your software or content includes assets from Cesium ion’s Asset Depot, you must display their data attribution. 
  • Cesium’s client software displays data attribution by default, usually behind a link labeled "Data attribution."
  • If you use non-Cesium software to render assets, extra steps might be needed to display the data attribution. 
  • If you create static content like images or videos with Cesium ion Asset Depot assets, you must ensure the attribution details are visible; just showing the static "Data attribution" link text is insufficient. For example, you could adjust your app to show the attribution at all times, you could include attribution in an image’s caption, or your could list attribution details at the end of a video. Covering the attribution in a video clip is unacceptable unless you display it in another prominent location in the video instead. 

Cesium and third-party assets

  • Cesium ion provides access to Cesium Global 3D Content assets such as Cesium World Terrain and third-party commercial assets such as Google Photorealistic 3D Tiles and Bing Imagery.  
  • The Cesium ion Terms of Service contains the terms for using Cesium-created content assets.
  • Each open and commercial third-party asset in ion has licensing and terms of use, and you’re responsible for understanding and complying with them. The Third-Party Content Terms includes or links to the full set of terms for third-party data made available through Cesium ion. This overview highlights some of those requirements, but be sure to read the full terms and review the linked pages.
  • You must respect the additional usage restrictions for sample assets in the Asset Depot. They are listed in the details pane on the right side of the screen when you view an asset in the Asset Depot.

Bing Maps 

  • Bing Maps assets streamed with Cesium ion may be used only to access and display maps and related information. You may not perform asset tracking, fleet management, or routing using Bing Maps assets from Cesium ion. Read more in the Bing Maps Content - Third Party Terms.
  • You may not combine Bing Maps assets provided by Cesium ion with non-Bing maps or with non-Bing imagery, including Google Photorealistic 3D Tiles. 
  • Bing Maps is being retired, but Cesium ion will provide access to it at least through September 2026. Alternative imagery will be made available soon.

Google Maps 

Your use of Google Maps Platform assets through Cesium ion is subject to the terms and policies listed in Google Maps Services - Third Party Terms. Review all of them, but note these restrictions in particular:

  • You may not use Google Maps Platform assets provided by Cesium ion for high-risk activities. Their Terms of Service include a list of examples.
  • You may not combine Google Maps Platform data with a non-Google map. For example, you may not combine Google’s Places API data with the Bing Maps Road asset available through Cesium ion.

These easier-to-understand policy guides are especially helpful when interpreting Google's terms:

See the Logos and Data attribution sections of this guide for information about displaying the Google logo and data attribution. 

Geocoders

Cesium ion provides access to both the Bing and Google Maps geocoders. Do not combine use of Google Maps map data such as Photorealistic 3D Tiles with the Bing geocoder. Do not combine use of Bing Maps map data with the Google geocoder.

Caching Data

  • Do not cache Cesium or third-party assets for use in your software or content for a period longer than is specified by those assets.

Content and code examples at cesium.com/learn are available under the Apache 2.0 license. You can use the code examples in your commercial or non-commercial applications.