By CIO Insider
 

MapmyIndia CEO Rohan Verma has publicly criticized Ola-parent ANI Technologies for its claims of developing a navigational map of India, labeling the assertion as a “gimmick”. This strong response from MapmyIndia comes in the wake of a legal notice sent to Ola Electric on July 23, alleging a breach of the terms and conditions of a licensing agreement.

The dispute centers on the use of mapping and navigational technology by Ola Electric, which had entered into an agreement with MapmyIndia in 2021 under the terms of this agreement, Ola Electric was granted access to MapmyIndia’s APIs (Application programming Interfaces) and SDKs (software development kits) for its operations. However, MapmyIndia alleges that Ola Electric has violated this agreement prompting the legal action. Verma’s criticism intensified after Ola’s recent claim that its new map of India was developed with the help of Geospoc Pvt Ltd, a startup focused on geospatial technology. Ola has positioned this development as a breakthrough in its efforts to create an indigenous map for its services, aimed at reducing reliance on third-party providers. However, MapmyIndia’s CEO has dismissed these claims, questioning the validity and originality of the map supposedly developed by Geospoc.

Rohan Verma’s remarks reflect MapmyIndia’s stance that the creation of a comprehensive navigational map of India is a complex, resource intensive process that cannot be accomplished as easily as Ola has suggested. Verma argued that building a robust and reliable mapping system requires years of effort, advanced technology, and significant investments-elements that he believes Ola and its partner Geospoc lack. He emphasized that MapmyIndia, with its decades of experience in the field, remains the leader in digital mapping and geospatial solutions in India.

The legal notice sent to Ola Electric alleges that the company’s actions have not only breached the licensing agreement but also undermined the proprietary technology and intellectual property rights of MapmyIndia. The notice reportedly demands that Ola Electric immediately stop using MapmyIndia’s APIs and SDKs and provide full transparency regarding the source and details of the mapping data currently being used in their operations. This conflict highlights the increasingly competitive nature of the digital mapping and geospatial services industry in India. As companies like Ola strive to build in-house capabilities to reduce dependency on established intellectual property and contract compliance are involved.

Ola Electric has yet to publicly respond to the legal notice or the allegations made by MapmyIndia CEO. The outcome of this dispute could have significant implications for both companies, particularly as they continue to innovate their service in the rapidly growing Indian market.