Entertainment
Using Google branding in TV, film, and video
Google shows up in everyday life, so showing Google in entertainment makes sense. Read on to understand what you can and can’t do with Google’s brand in TV, film, and video.
General guidelines
Only show Google products being used in ways that are natural, accessible, and relatable, and that don’t violate our Terms of Service.
Show products being used for positive or neutral purposes, like:
- A parent using Google Search to look up online learning resources
- A group of friends using Google Maps for directions on their road trip
- An international traveler using Google Translate for help finding their hotel
Don’t show our products being used for negative purposes, like:
- A bad guy using Google Search for nefarious purposes
- Bank robbers using Google Maps to find the location of their next target
- Someone using Gmail to threaten, spam, or harass someone
Show our products functioning as intended and being helpful, like:
- Google Search displaying accurate and realistic results
- A Google Meet call with a strong connection and high-quality video
- Google Gemini responding to a query with useful, relevant information
Don’t show our products not working properly or having negative consequences, like:
- Google Maps giving wrong directions or leading someone to a dangerous area
- Google Search taking someone to a website with a virus
- An office worker getting angry at the amount of emails in their Gmail inbox
Product visuals
When we say “product visuals,” we mean representations of our actual products in action, like screenshots or visual elements from our user interfaces (UI).
Always show Google products in ways that are true to how they look and function in real life.
Guidelines for usage in entertainment are below, and for general guidelines on how to represent Google screenshots and UI, see Product visuals.
Use the most current version of our products and logos, unless your story takes place in the past.
Don’t invent functionality or change what the product looks like.
Only modify content in realistic, fictional stories – and only if necessary and relevant to the plot.
Don’t modify content in real-life uses of our products or in unrealistic fictitious environments.
It’s okay to show Google Maps and Google Earth product visuals (like screenshots) out of the context of a digital device for documentaries, news, or travel shows, where it’s useful for showing locations. (Otherwise, don’t do it.)
Don’t show product visuals (like screenshots) out of the context of a digital device like a phone or laptop (other than the exception about showing locations with Google Maps and Google Earth.)
Show the user (real or fictitious) as signed into a Google Account when using any Google products.
Third-party content
Google can’t give you permission to show third-party content that appears on our services, including:
- Images in Google Search results
- Video content and thumbnails on YouTube
To show third-party content within Google products, you must get approval from the content owner.
In some circumstances (such as fictional stories), you can replace third-party content with your own content and imagery, as long as you don’t otherwise alter how the product looks.
Google-owned content
Sometimes, you can use content that’s created and owned by Google, such as a portion of a video from one of Google’s YouTube channels. To check, submit a request on Partner Marketing Hub. Keep in mind that licensing rights vary depending on who produced the content, and its original purpose.
If your request to use Google-owned content is approved, be sure to follow these guidelines.
Some YouTube videos can be embedded according to YouTube’s Terms of service.
Find YouTube's Terms of service here. Partners with a Partner Marketing Hub account can sign in to access preapproved images and videos for marketing campaigns.
Don’t use Talks at Google content outside of YouTube’s embed tools. We can’t grant permission for use of this content.
Obtain your own legal advice when using content under the principles of fair use in the U.S. (or similar concepts in other countries). Google can’t tell you if your use of content would be fair use, since the legal analysis depends on the specific facts of your proposed use.
Don’t use Google Doodles anywhere, in any form of entertainment.
Verbal references
You don’t need permission to refer to Google or Google products verbally in film, TV, and video, as long as you don’t imply endorsement or affiliation, and you otherwise follow the guidelines on this site.
For more guidance, including how you can and can’t use the Google name in copy, see How to talk about Google’s brand.