CE Info Systems, operating under the brand MapMyIndia, has issued a legal notice to Ola Electric, alleging that the electric vehicle company unlawfully copied its data. This claim emerges as Ola Electric recently introduced its own mapping service, marking a significant shift from their previous collaboration.
In 2021, Ola Electric had entered into a licensing agreement with MapMyIndia to integrate navigation services into its S1 Pro electric scooter. However, according to the legal notice, Ola Electric has violated this agreement by caching and saving MapMyIndia’s data for its newly launched Ola Maps, contrary to the terms that prohibit co-mingling with competing products, reverse engineering, or copying source code.
MapMyIndia has expressed its intent to pursue both civil and criminal legal actions against Ola Electric. The Delhi-based mapping service provider contends that such actions breach the trust and contractual agreements between the two companies, potentially leading to significant legal and financial ramifications.
This legal battle surfaces shortly after Ola Electric’s strategic move to replace Google Maps with its own mapping technology, Ola Maps, in an effort touted by CEO Bhavish Aggarwal to potentially save the company approximately Rs 100 crore annually. Following this shift, Google responded by slashing its map service pricing for developers in India by up to 70%, and offering additional discounts to those involved with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
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The timing of this dispute is critical as Ola Electric prepares for its upcoming stock market debut on August 2. Meanwhile, MapMyIndia, which went public in December 2021, reported a 35% increase in net profit to Rs 38.2 crore for the last quarter of FY24, with operating revenues reaching Rs 106 crore.
