Overview

As of June 15, 2022, Maxar Technologies transitioned from the NextView License to the Electro-Optical Commercial Layer (EOCL) License.

The EOCL license applies to Maxar commercial imagery and derived products (such as Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and Digital Surface Models (DSMs)) for use across US Government agencies, federal contractors and other entities supporting US Government interests.  The EOCL License is effective until 2032. PGC also must adhere to the EOCL license.

Commercial imagery and derived DEMs are subject to the US Government Plus End User License Agreement (EULA) as it relates to the EOCL License. The terms and usage guidelines between the NextView License and the EOCL License are essentially identical as they pertain to commercial satellite imagery.  The terms and usage guidelines pertaining to derived DEMs differ between the NextView and EOCL Licenses.  Derived DEMs under the EOCL License are no longer publicly releasable without prior NGA approval. 

In July of 2023, NSF, NGA, and NRO announced an agreement with Maxar to establish an exception to EOCL for PGC’s ArcticDEM and Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica (REMA) projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the EOCL License mean for commercial imagery I’ve already received from PGC?

The terms and usage guidelines for commercial imagery you previously obtained under the NextView License are no different under the EOCL License. Commercial satellite imagery obtained under either the NextView License or EOCL License should only be used for a U.S. Government purpose (which includes federally funded awards) and should not be made publicly available without NGA/NRO approval. PGC facilitates this approval process for PGC users.

What does the EOCL License mean for commercial imagery I receive in the future from PGC?

Commercial satellite imagery you receive after June 15, 2022 is and will be under the EOCL License. The terms and usage guidelines for commercial imagery between the NextView License and EOCL License remain the same. Commercial satellite imagery obtained under the EOCL License should only be used for a U.S. Government purpose (which includes federally funded awards) and should not be made publicly available without NGA/NRO approval.

What does the EOCL License mean for high-resolution DEMs I’ve already received from PGC?

Custom Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) or DEMs you’ve previously received through the ArcticDEM or Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica (REMA) projects are all subject to the NextView License which does not have restrictions on DEM sharing, publication, or use. These DEMs are publicly releasable and ArcticDEM and REMA data remains publicly available.

What does the EOCL License mean for high-resolution DEMs I receive in the future from PGC?

Custom Digital Elevation Models

Custom DEMs you receive from PGC in support of your federally funded work have the same restrictions as commercial satellite imagery. They may only be used in support of your federally funded work and should not be made publicly available without NGA/NRO approval.

ArcticDEM and Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica (REMA)

DEMs created within the ArcticDEM and REMA geographic domains (with the exception of Alaska) will continue to be publicly available without restrictions and released on an annual basis. Alaska is the only region included in the previous ArcticDEM domain that is no longer publicly releasable under the agreement between NGA, NRO, and NSF that allows for the continued public release of these data.

What about DEMs I create from commercial satellite imagery myself?

DEMs you’ve created from commercial satellite imagery should be treated as having the same restrictions as the commercial satellite imagery itself. These DEMs should only be used in support of your federally funded work and should not be made publicly available without NGA/NRO approval.

Resources

1. Commercial Data/Imagery End User License Agreements Fact Sheet
2. Citation and Publication Approval for Licensed Imagery and DEMs