Im not sure how they pass it ,but i did do some research and came up with some things that mite help ,this as far as i know is a new part to there copyright as before ,it was a no ,No way kinda copyright
first of all
http://earth.google.com/support/bin/answer...mp;answer=21422QUOTE
Google Help › Google Earth Help › Learn More › Legal and Privacy Issues › Legal Issues › Use of images
Legal Issues: Use of images
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This article explains that:
You can use Google Earth imagery for personal use, but cannot sell it to others.
We're flattered to hear that you're further incorporating Google Earth into your online world. You can personally use an image from the application (for example on your website, on a blog or in a word document) as long as you preserve the copyrights and attributions including the Google logo attribution. However, you cannot sell these to others, provide them as part of a service, or use them in a commercial product such as a book or TV show without first getting a rights clearance from Google.
If you require these commercial rights, please visit Google's permissions guidelines. You can then submit your application through our online request form.
Please note that we'll only be able to respond to permission requests submitted through the above form.[/quote]
on the page i provided you will find a couple of links ,that you can send questions
failing a clear answer from goggle you could post on the OZX forums asking them ,from my point of view at the moment i still cant see how its legal and i would have thought each one is taking a risk uploading the source ,unless each person has gone through the process above and got permission from goggle or the councils/govts that own the imagery ...

Posted:
Fri Nov 27, 2009 12:18 am
by NZ255
but if no ones profiting from it.......


Posted:
Fri Nov 27, 2009 12:34 am
by creator2003
Yeah you would have to email or contact goggle over that ,i would like to see a clear answer from goggle on FSX usages and freeware uploading to a service like flightsim.com or private server for others ,let us know what they say
mike