Latest Sharing Economy Headlines
All the headlines from our Sharing Economy Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Uber Must Face Claims of Creating Fake Lyft Accounts
Sep 6 2016 // While Uber Technologies Inc. fights to keep its own drivers out of court with their grievances, it can’t force arbitration on Lyft Inc. drivers who accuse the ride-hailing behemoth of dirty tricks. Uber will have to...
Uber-Like Video Service DropIn Lets Adjusters Assess Damage from Their Desks
Sep 2 2016 // A new service promises to provide insurance claims adjusters with videos of losses without them ever having to leave their desks. The videos would be supplied by an Uber-like network of smartphone users and, eventually,...
Judge Finds $28M Uber Offer to Settle Rider Fee Class Action Unfair
Sep 1 2016 // Uber Technologies Inc. was dealt a second rejection of a legal settlement, this time in a case over claims the company misled riders when it charged them a $1 “safe rides fee” that earned the company almost...
Governor Cuomo Reviewing Bill to Establish Fines for New York Airbnb Users
Aug 30 2016 // New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo must soon decide whether to authorize hefty fines for many people who offer to rent out their New York City apartments on Airbnb. Meanwhile, the online booking service said it’s policing...
Judge Grants Uber’s Request to Put New York Price Fixing, Arbitration Lawsuit on Hold
Aug 29 2016 // A federal judge on Friday granted a request by Uber Technologies Inc. and its chief executive officer to put a passenger’s price-fixing lawsuit against them on hold, while they appeal his refusal to let them...
Uber Opposes Employee Status But Offers Its Freelance Drivers Retirement App
Aug 25 2016 // They may not have a 401(k) plan, but drivers working through Uber Technologies Inc.’s platform will soon be able to open a retirement account right in the app. And in traditional Silicon Valley style, the...
Massachusetts Tax on Ridesharing to Go to Taxis, Infrastructure
Aug 22 2016 // Massachusetts is preparing to levy a 5-cent fee per trip on ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft and spend the money on the traditional taxi industry, a subsidy that appears to be the first of its kind in the United...
Failure of Uber Settlement Opens Door for Wage Claims
Aug 22 2016 // The rejection of a $100 million settlement with drivers comes with plenty of silver linings for Uber Technologies Inc. The gray cloud for the ride-hailing company is that a dozen or so lawsuits that would have been...
Judge Nixes $100M Driver Settlement But Uber May Win in End
Aug 19 2016 // Uber Technologies Inc. may come out ahead by failing to win court approval of a $100 million settlement with drivers. A San Francisco federal judge rejected the agreement on Thursday, a turn of events that would typically...
Uber Moves Into Self-Driving Truck Lane with Otto Acquisition
Aug 19 2016 // Ride service Uber Technologies Inc. said on Thursday it has acquired the self-driving trucks startup Otto, and it also announced that Volvo Car Group has agreed to a $300 million alliance to develop self-driving...
Uber to Reunite with Alabama College Towns
Aug 18 2016 // The ridesharing service Uber plans to return to two Alabama cities this week as students return to college campuses. Local media report that city officials in Auburn and Tuscaloosa have approved ordinances in recent weeks...
Suit against Seattle Law Enabling Uber Drivers to Unionize Tossed by Judge
Aug 11 2016 // A judge has dismissed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s lawsuit against Seattle’s new ordinance that gives drivers for ridesharing companies the ability to unionize over pay and working conditions. The Seattle...
Uber Launches Ridesharing Operations in Montana City
Aug 8 2016 // Residents of Billings, Mont. have a new way to catch a ride as Uber has launched in the city. The Billings Gazette reported that Billings Mayor Tom Hanel took the service’s ceremonial first ride last week to...
Airbnb Sues Southern California City over Short-term Rental Law
Aug 8 2016 // Airbnb is suing the city of Anaheim over a law that regulates short-term rentals. The suit filed in late July argues the city violates free-speech rights and federal law by holding Airbnb responsible when users post...
Boston Police Chief Disappointed Ridesharing Bill Lacks Driver Fingerprinting
Aug 3 2016 // Boston Police Commissioner William Evans is faulting Massachusetts lawmakers for failing to require the fingerprinting of drivers for ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft. The House and Senate approved regulations...
Airbnb Sues Southern California City over Short-term Rental Law
Aug 1 2016 // Airbnb is suing the city of Anaheim over a law that regulates short-term rentals. The Orange County Register reported the suit argues the city violates free-speech rights and federal law by holding Airbnb responsible when...
Uber Insists If Arbitration Pact Is Nixed, $100M Driver Settlement Is Dead
Aug 1 2016 // Uber Technologies Inc.’s message to the judge who must approve its $100 million settlement with drivers is clear: take it or leave it. In an escalating game of courtroom brinkmanship, Uber has hit what may be an...
Judge Denies Uber Bid to Enforce Arbitration in Consumer Suit
Aug 1 2016 // Uber Technologies Inc. can’t require a Connecticut customer accusing the company of price-fixing to resolve the fight in arbitration, a federal judge ruled in one of several cases challenging the ride-hailing...
Judge Hits Uber’s Background Check on Passenger Bringing Price-Fixing Suit
Jul 26 2016 // A federal judge on Monday banned Uber Technologies Inc. and its Chief Executive Travis Kalanick from using information from a background check on a passenger bringing a price-fixing lawsuit, saying the investigative firm...
Uber Cleared to Offer Rides in West Virginia
Jul 21 2016 // Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin introduced Uber to West Virginia by hailing the state’s first ride. After an Uber trip from Capitol Market in Charleston to the state Capitol, Manchin and Tomblin...
