IS UBER a transport company or just an app? That’s the question facing the EU’s highest court this week in a landmark case that will inform how Uber and other digital-focused “sharing economy” firms are able to operate across Europe.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) will hear arguments over whether the ride-booking company should be treated like a normal taxi firm or a purely digital service. The distinction is important, as transport firms face much stricter regulation.
The case was referred to the ECJ by a Barcelona judge after a 2014 ruling pushed Uber to suspend services in Spain after complaints that its operations amounted to unfair competition. Taxi firms across Europe have argued that Uber has an advantage if it is not subject to the same laws as they are, with additional protests and legal battles taking place in countries including France, Germany and the UK.
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Uber maintains that it is simply a digital service connecting drivers and riders.
This article appeared in print under the headline “What is Uber?”