5 ms·

To be fair,I'd say that Uber doesn't even have (real) offices in most countries where it operates,therefore making it almost impossible to enforce any court dec

by aikah 12y ago

To be fair,I'd say that Uber doesn't even have (real) offices in most countries where it operates,therefore making it almost impossible to enforce any court decision against it.It's a bit like Airbnb. Unless one makes the app illegal or block Uber website(which I am against),there is not much the justice can do. On the other hand,just like with Airbnb,for the hosts and drivers,it's another story... I would also add that,if a country really want to kick out these "sharing economy" services,they need to fine the service provider as well as the client.Not that I agree with it,just that,as long as there are clients willing to pay for it,with little risk,there will be hosts and drivers willing to take the risk to be fined.

pmorici 12y ago
"there is not much the justice can do." It would be pretty east to shut down. Just give a few cops some phones have them start hailing Ubers and handing out tickets with heavy fines to drivers. Rinse and repeat until word gets around. Uber might still be operating but unless they are going to pay the tickets they will soon be out of drivers.
- at-fates-hands 12y ago
  I was thinking the same thing. As a driver, (and considering Uber's history and questionable business practices) no way I'd want to get stuck with a 40K euro fine to pay on my own.
- colmvp 12y ago
  That's pretty much what happened in Ottawa.
- smackfu 12y ago
  That's assuming that the penalties are enforceable upon the drivers. I wouldn't be surprised to see the laws written exactly the opposite, to protect the drivers from bad actions of the employer.
TazeTSchnitzel 12y ago
I wonder if a little Internet censorship might be a possible means of enforcement. Ask the court to order mobile ISPs to block Uber.
- jrockway 12y ago
  Easy to get around, unless they also block the app stores. All Uber has to do is push an update pointing to new URLs, perhaps a long list of them, perhaps including very popular CDNs, and the block is over. Further blocking of said URL list will cause major problems for everyone, and will be the last time anyone tries Internet censorship... for a few days.
  - M2Ys4U 12y ago
    Or get an injunction against Apple and Google to stop distributing the apps.

by aikah 12y ago

pmorici 12y ago

"there is not much the justice can do." It would be pretty east to shut down. Just give a few cops some phones have them start hailing Ubers and handing out tickets with heavy fines to drivers. Rinse and repeat until word gets around. Uber might still be operating but unless they are going to pay the tickets they will soon be out of drivers.

at-fates-hands 12y ago
I was thinking the same thing. As a driver, (and considering Uber's history and questionable business practices) no way I'd want to get stuck with a 40K euro fine to pay on my own.
colmvp 12y ago
That's pretty much what happened in Ottawa.
smackfu 12y ago
That's assuming that the penalties are enforceable upon the drivers. I wouldn't be surprised to see the laws written exactly the opposite, to protect the drivers from bad actions of the employer.

TazeTSchnitzel 12y ago

I wonder if a little Internet censorship might be a possible means of enforcement. Ask the court to order mobile ISPs to block Uber.

jrockway 12y ago
Easy to get around, unless they also block the app stores. All Uber has to do is push an update pointing to new URLs, perhaps a long list of them, perhaps including very popular CDNs, and the block is over. Further blocking of said URL list will cause major problems for everyone, and will be the last time anyone tries Internet censorship... for a few days.
- M2Ys4U 12y ago
  Or get an injunction against Apple and Google to stop distributing the apps.