MapmyIndia Accuses Ola Of Data Theft To Build Ola Maps, Sends Legal Notice

Listed geotech company MapmyIndia’s parent entity CE Info Systems has reportedly accused Ola Electric of illicitly copying its data to build its recently launched Ola Maps interface. 

According to a report by Forbes India, the startup has sent a legal notice to IPO-bound Ola Electric for co-mingling and reverse engineering its licensed product. 

“You have duplicated our client’s API (application programming interface) and SDKs (software development kits) from proprietary sources belonging to our client to build OLA Maps. It is firmly stated that our client’s exclusive data has been copied/derived by you to further your illegal motive and for your unjust commercial gains,” CE Info Systems’ legal notice to Ola Electric read. 

The notice is also said to contest the EV startup’s claim of developing its API and map data independently through open sources. “By indulging in such unscrupulous and illegal activities, you have acted in blatant defiance of the terms and conditions of the agreement and have further infringed the copyright vested exclusively in our client pertaining to the source code,” the notice added.

The report added that Ola Electric inked an agreement with the geotech company for using its data in June 2021. “You have misused the confidential information and the trade secrets, exclusively belonging to our client…The said illegal actions and the unfair trade practices adopted by you with the sole objective of unjustly enriching yourself to the detriment of our client’s business interest are unacceptable,” the notice said.

Meanwhile, Ola Electric called the allegations “false, malicious and misleading”. “We would like to state unequivocally that these allegations are false, malicious and misleading. Ola Electric stands by the integrity of its business practices. We will suitably respond to the notice shortly,” a company spokesperson said. 

MapmyIndia declined to comment on Inc42’s queries on the issue.

It is pertinent to note that MapmyIndia also entered into an agreement with ride-hailing giant Ola Cabs in 2015 to bolster its mapping capabilities. Under the partnership, Ola got complete access to mapping data from MapmyIndia through a multi-year (undisclosed) licence for an undisclosed amount.

Earlier this month, the ride-hailing startup fully exited Google Maps and moved to its in-house navigation platform, Ola Maps. 

“After Azure exit last month, we’ve now fully exited google maps. We used to spend INR 100 Cr a year but we’ve made that 0 this month by moving completely to our in-house Ola maps!,” founder Bhavish Aggarwal said. 

While Ola Maps is already powering the range of Ola Electric scooters, the company’s CEO and founder Aggarwal has also teased that more features such as street view, NeRFs (neural radiance fields), indoor images, 3D maps, drone maps, among others, will be added to Ola Maps.

With its mapping service, Ola plans to take on giants like Google Maps and MapmyIndia. To get more developers onboard Ola Maps, Aggarwal also announced a new pricing structure. 

In a blog post, Aggarwal announced updated pricing for Ola Maps subscription, which will be free for all developers for the first year. The company said that the new pricing slab will come into effect from July 18. 

Note: Update | July 29, 09:40 PM: The story has been edited to add Ola Electric’s response.

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