Google search policy

Question

I have question about using Google search. Can I use a custom google search in my native iOS app instead of using their api tools, is this a problem for google?

I write html page ( http://barzyczak.vot.pl/search.html?q=test ):

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
    <head>
        <title>Element V2: Results Only Layout Demo</title>

        <!-- Put the following javascript before the closing </head> tag. -->
        <script>
            (function() {
             var cx = 'xyz';
             var gcse = document.createElement('script'); gcse.type = 'text/javascript'; gcse.async = true;
             gcse.src = (document.location.protocol == 'https:' ? 'https:' : 'http:') +
             '//www.google.com/cse/cse.js?cx=' + cx;
             var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(gcse, s);
             })();
            </script>
    </head>

    <body>
        <!-- Place this tag where you want the search results to render -->
        <gcse:searchresults-only enableOrderBy="false"></gcse:searchresults-only>
    </body>

I do request to site with above content in my iOS app and receives the results. I show this results in UIWebView:

enter image description here

So Can I use

- (BOOL)webView:(UIWebView*)webView shouldStartLoadWithRequest:(NSURLRequest*)request navigationType:(UIWebViewNavigationType)navigationTyp

and redirect user to my UIViewController? Is this ok for Google policy?

Can I intercept/catch user's click on the link and open native application view instead of webview or should I open desired page in webview, and then redirect (with 301 code) with iOS schema URL, which open native app view (so really simulate click in google)?

Ps. I know about Google API, but this is not ok for me.

I don't think google policy has anything to do with where you navigate in your application! — nsgulliver, Mar 11 '13 at 13:17
But can I also navigate Google advertisement in search results? :) — Roman Barzyczak, Mar 11 '13 at 13:27
The advertisement is usually the first two links, although Google may not like it if you skip over the advertisements — GangstaGraham, Mar 12 '13 at 22:52

Nirav Gadhiya · Answer 1 · 2013-03-15T16:40:56.843

UIWebView is similar to safari browser.

So, If you are loading ANY URL in UIWebView, then dont worry. Loading request with any url in UIWebView is as same as pasting a url in browser so there is no need to worry. But if you want to open ads of google in UIViewController or with any other control like label (eg. you are showing ads on UILabel or UITextView) then there should be problem with policies.

I am not so sure about google policy, but if you are using only UIWebView then there is no need to worry. Go ahead.........

And for google searches i have used one url that you can try....

    NSString * urlString = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"https://www.google.co.in/webhp#hl=en&sugexp=les%%3B&gs_nf=1&tok=LZGxyqNyXgb5XCemHei1Fg&cp=4&gs_id=g&xhr=t&q=%@", self.txtSearch.text];
    [self.webView loadRequest:[NSURLRequest requestWithURL:[NSURL URLWithString:urlString]]];

Hope this post will help you..............

Have a happy coding...........

EDIT:- YOU CAN NOT PERFORM MONEY TRANSACTIONS IN WEBVIEW (PROBABLY BECAUSE OF APPLE'S IN-APP PURCHASE POLICY)

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 17 '13 at 13:56

Google's Custom Search Terms of Service (TOS) can be found at http://www.google.com/cse/docs/tos.html. I would suggest reading these thoroughly. Specifically section 1.3 which I have copied (as of 17-Mar-2013):

1.3 Your Obligations. You shall receive a Query from the End User and shall forward that Query to Google. You may not in any way frame, cache or modify the Results produced by Google, except as otherwise agreed to between You and Google. Google will not be responsible for receiving Queries from End Users or for transmission of data between You and Google's network interface. You shall be responsible for providing all hardware and software required to perform Your obligations under the Terms of Use, including but not limited to the following: (a) implementing and maintaining the Site, (b) implementing and maintaining the interface between the Site and the Service, and (c) receiving a Query from an End User and transmitting the Query to Google.

I am not a lawyer, but "You may not in any way frame, cache or modify the Results produced by Google, except as otherwise agreed to between You and Google." would seem important in your situation.

Unless you are paying for Google Site Search, you cannot display the results without displaying the ads.

Cezar · Answer 3 · 2013-03-15T19:39:17.920

From Google's current Terms of Service:

Using our Services

You must follow any policies made available to you within the Services.

Don’t misuse our Services. For example, don’t interfere with our Services or try to access them using a method other than the interface and the instructions that we provide.

This, to me, is a little dubious. Whether loading search results from a URL you've constructed programatically is or is not using the interface they provide is arguable, but in my interpretation, seems ok, as long as you are loading the request in a UIWebView. If you parse the html somehow to present the results in a different fashion, such as a UITableView for example, then I think it crosses the line.

I am working on an app where I do a very similar thing to what you are attempting to do. I show the search results in a UIWebView, and if the user clicks a link, it is opened in a UIWebView in a different ViewController. But I use a different search engine, and I made the option of asking them beforehand and they agreed it was ok.

Google search policy

3 Answers3