Latest Sharing Economy Headlines
All the headlines from our Sharing Economy Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Crawford Buys Majority Stake in ‘Uber-Like’ Field Inspection Firm WeGoLook
Dec 12 2016 // Global claims management firm Crawford & Co. has acquired a majority interest in WeGoLook, an online and mobile inspection firm that calls itself the “Uber of inspections.” Crawford said it agreed to pay...
Uber Wants Pennsylvania to Delay Rules for Driverless Cars
Dec 9 2016 // Ride-sharing company Uber wants the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to delay policy recommendations that govern the testing of driverless cars. Uber, which has been testing the driverless cars in Pittsburgh for...
A Conciliatory Airbnb Offers Guidelines for Cities’ Homesharing Regulation
Dec 9 2016 // In a moment of peace-making with regulators, Airbnb on Wednesday released a set of policy suggestions for governments that are considering new laws for home- and apartment-renting. The document, which comes on the heels of...
Airbnb, New York City Settle Rental Law Lawsuit
Dec 6 2016 // Airbnb Inc. and New York City said on Friday they had resolved a lawsuit brought by the company challenging a law it argued could expose it to significant penalties for advertising short-term apartment rentals. Airbnb...
Uber Drivers in Taiwan Threatened with Fines of $780,000 in Draft Rules
Dec 6 2016 // Investors and companies are getting a preview of how the Taiwan government’s plan to become “Asia’s Silicon Valley” might fare. Uber Technologies Inc., one of Silicon Valley’s most disruptive...
BMW to Test Autonomous Vehicles in Munich in 2017
Dec 5 2016 // BMW will test autonomous vehicles in Munich next year as it seeks to keep up with ride-hailing firms like Uber, which have spent billions on pay-per-use personal transport. The German carmaker will have about 40 vehicles...
Uber Case in Europe’s High Court Could Affect Sharing Economy Firms
Nov 30 2016 // Uber defended its business model in Europe’s highest court on Tuesday, saying its service had made it easier for people to get around and cut pollution as it fights a case which could leave app-based startups facing...
EU Court to Decide Whether Uber Is an App or a Transport Company
Nov 30 2016 // Fifteen judges at the European Union’s top court are trying to decide, once and for all, whether Uber Technologies Inc. is an app or a transport company. The question has long vexed regulators and lawmakers across...
Uber Looking to Begin Service in Wyoming for First Time
Nov 28 2016 // The ridesharing service Uber is looking to begin service in Wyoming, one of the few states where it’s not yet doing business. Wyoming law will need to be changed before ridesharing services may operate in the state....
Unions, Gig-Economy Firms Prepare for New York Benefits Battle
Nov 28 2016 // Faced with a barrage of lawsuits from workers demanding benefits and recognition as employees, some companies in the fast-growing ‘gig economy’ are looking to settle the issues through legislation. Joseph...
Uber Working to Settle with California Drivers over Employee Benefits
Nov 17 2016 // Uber Technologies Inc. is trying to finalize a settlement with California drivers to resolve potentially billions of dollars in claims stemming from the company’s refusal to give them the protections and benefits of...
Sharing Economy Requires More Sharing Between Underwriting, Claims
Nov 16 2016 // The sharing economy poses new challenges for insurers including new exposures from technology and a need for better communication between claims and underwriting. That’s according to members of the International...
Atlantic City Ride-Hailing Drivers Face Legal and Regulatory Hurdles
Nov 14 2016 // Joshua DeLeon earned $200 a week driving for Uber, a side job he used to buy an engagement ring for his girlfriend. Then he got a $300 ticket from Atlantic City for operating without a proper license, and he quit. “I...
Home-Share Site Airbnb Loses Round in Fight Against City Regulations
Nov 9 2016 // Airbnb Inc.’s claim that it’s just a conduit for user-generated content was rejected by a judge who said the company may not be able to duck a San Francisco law punishing it when hosts book units that...
Uber Settles Claims of Sexual Assault by Drivers
Nov 4 2016 // Uber Technologies Inc. settled a lawsuit filed by two women who sought to hold the company responsible for alleged sexual assaults by drivers. Terms of the accord weren’t disclosed in court papers. The settlement...
So Where’s All That Economic Disruption from Technology?
Nov 3 2016 // A funny thing happened on the path to disruption. This decade, most of Silicon Valley’s big societal claims have turned out to be wrong. These claims arguably began around the time this cycle’s real expansion...
National Labor Board Urges Court to Block Uber Arbitration Agreement
Nov 3 2016 // The U.S. labor-protection watchdog is taking sides with Uber Technologies Inc. drivers in their fight to be treated better than independent contractors. As part of a broader review of how gig-economy companies treat...
Federal Judge Upholds Airbnb Arbitration Clause in Racial Bias Case
Nov 2 2016 // A man who claims that the online lodging site Airbnb violated his civil rights must take his complaint to arbitration with Airbnb and cannot sue the online service, a federal judge has ruled. In a Nov. 1 ruling, Judge...
Source Says Airbnb, New York in Talks to Resolve Rental Law Lawsuit
Nov 2 2016 // Airbnb Inc and New York state are in talks to resolve a lawsuit brought by the company challenging a law it says could expose it to significant penalties for advertising short-term apartment rentals, a person familiar with...
UK Uber Drivers’ Court Victory Over Pay Could Rejigger Gig Economy
Oct 31 2016 // Uber Technologies Inc. lost a lawsuit over pay and vacation time for U.K. drivers at the car-sharing service in a ruling that could change how workers are treated in the country’s burgeoning gig economy. Three London...
