A designer in Bengaluru is claiming image copyright infringement of a line art image of Vidhana Soudha by cab aggregator Ola for a citywide billboard campaign promoting Ola Auto.
Ramakrishna V is a graphic designer who has worked with Housing and Zoho in a creative capacity. According to him, the company used his image of Vidhana Soudha, a prominent landmark in Bengaluru that he had posted at Dribbble.com for commercial purposes, without his express permission.
The image was posted on February 17, 2015. Under the creative commons license terms of the website, the image was not to be used for commercial purposes or without attribution.
His tweet was directed at both the company’s handle as well as co-founder Bhavish Agarwal wherein he says: ‘Do feel proud, but it ain’t cool. Thought I deserved a credit.’ The picture accompanying the tweet also compares the original image of Vidhana Soudha with the one used by Ola.
The picture accompanying the tweet also compares the original image of vidhana soudha with the one is use by the Ola.
The next tweet provides a screenshot of the Creative Commons License violation. This is the human –readable summary of the license in which he describes-
You are free to:
Share – copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.
Adapt– remix, transformation revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license term.
Under the following:
Attribution– you must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licenser endorses you or your use
Non commercial– you may not use the material for commercial purpose
The Vidhana Soudha, located in Bengaluru (Bangalore), is the seat of the state legislature of Karnataka. It is an imposing building, constructed in a style sometimes described as Mysore Neo-Dravidian, and incorporates elements of Indo-Saracenic and Dravidian styles.
As per email communication received from the creative agency associated with Ola, the matter of copyright infringement has been amicably resolved between the designer and the agency which had made the hoardings in the first place. In a letter signed by the designer, it is iterated that ‘Ola was in no way responsible’ for the snafu. And that the designer has been adequately compensated for his efforts.
To bring closure to the matter on social media, a tweet from Ramakrishna also confirmed the same.
He says: “Ola’s creative agency compensated me for the license issue of my artwork,” tagging the official handles of the company too.