Mint Explainer: Ola Maps, MapMyIndia, Google and the nationalism conundrum

livemint.com:

Mint breaks down theissues that have fuelled this controversy. The Ola Maps controversy raises multiple issues. It has highlighted the plight of startups looking to take on Google's massive might, which not only dominates Maps but also accounts for over 90% of smartphones in the country.

It also brings to the fore a dispute around how Ola Maps was built, with MapMyIndia claiming that the Ola Maps product violated copyrighted material owned by it, including proprietary data and features. These factors were subsequently elaborated in a notice to Ola on 29 July. The notice in question was served by CE Info Systems Ltd, the publicly listed parent firm of homegrown mapping firm, MapMyIndia.

While the veracity of the claims is yet to be proven, the notice in question has raised a number of key points in conversations around mapping products and their recent claims. The notice from MapMyIndia to Ola Maps said, “Our client’s exclusive data has been copied or derived by you to further your illegal motive and for your unjust commercial gains. Your assertion that you have developed an API (application programming interface) and map data for Ola Maps solely through open maps is factually incorrect and not tenable." "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.

Ola Maps has, for now, denied all allegations. However, the entire incident has raised questions about Aggarwal’s nationalistic rhetoric. The executive, whose company Ola Electric’s initial public offering (IPO) opened Friday, has been vocal about using