Ever since Reliance launched its Video Conferencing Application JioMeet it received a lot of slack on social media for copying the entire User Interface of Zoom, the undoubted leader in the Video Meeting Application. From Sign Up Page to Hosting the Meetings, JioMeet “co-incidentally” seems to have the exact same Interface as Zoom.
JioMeet and Zoom – a thread.
— SG (@shrinivassg) July 3, 2020
Screen 1 – Landing Page. pic.twitter.com/TC1HEJLUX1
Screen 3 – Start a Meeting. pic.twitter.com/pZs7AekrvD
— SG (@shrinivassg) July 3, 2020
Screen 5 – Schedule Meeting pic.twitter.com/uZ2IgvOknN
— SG (@shrinivassg) July 3, 2020
Screen 7 – My Profile pic.twitter.com/jbnNtjt3pO
— SG (@shrinivassg) July 3, 2020
Screen 9 – About pic.twitter.com/yZ7z48t7fa
— SG (@shrinivassg) July 3, 2020
Also Read: Battle Of Haldighat – India’s IP Fight for Turmeric
Sameer Raje, head of Zoom India has confirmed that they’re considering taking legal recourse against the newly-launched JioMeet over the striking resemblance in the User Interface and App Design.
“We knew it was coming. It’s fine, it is not the first time Zoom has faced competition. Our strength has been our products and technology, and our focus is on customers. What our competitors do is their strategy”
Sameer Raje to Economic Times
Zoom doesn’t hold any blanket patent on video-conferencing applications. Therefore developing JioMeet is not in contravention to any law. Also, Zoom has not design/patent-protected its UI/GIU/UX.
You can check all the Patents Zoom Inc Hold here.
Reliance is Asia’s largest conglomerate and has deep pockets. They have been extremely careful while developing JioMeet and made sure that they’re not violating any Intellectual Property protected by Zoom. On the face of the fact, all of us know that JioMeet is a complete rip-off of Zoom, there are high chances that Reliance will easily dodge the bullet due to strong legal backing. Zoom can claim Unfair Business Practices under the Competition Act, 2002 but the compensation shall be minimum. The current Government is known for it’s Digital India campaigns and Make In India initiatives, but is this the actual vision of Prime Minister Modi?
Zoom v/s Indian Sentiment
Indian Government recently banned 59 Chinese Applications quoting Data and Privacy concerns. This move was taken after 20 Indian Soldiers were Martyred in a stand-off against the Chinese Army at the Galwan Valley. There was a huge uproar in the “Boycott China” movement. Though Zoom is a Corporation registered in the United States of America and Eric Yuan, founder of Zoom, being of Chinese Origin has a Permanent Residenceship in the USA, Indians still have the notion that Zoom is a Chinese App. Also, there are several rumours that Zoom’s majority stakeholders are Chinese which are totally false. You can check major Shareholders of Zoom here. Reliance has truly capitalised on this Indian sentiment against Chinese Goods and Services but seems like it has forgotten Business Ethics.
