Court Orders Uber To Shut Down In Spain

An anonymous reader writes with word that a Spanish judge, after complaints from taxi associations that the competition Uber brings to the transportation market is unfair to existing firms' drivers, has ordered the company to cease operations in the country. From the BBC article: In his ruling on the temporary ban, the judge said Uber drivers didn't have official authorisation to drive their cars and was "unfair competition." The move follows a complaint by the Madrid Taxi Association. The Spanish ban comes just a day after Uber was blacklisted in the Indian capital Delhi. Drivers "lack the administrative authorisation to carry out the job, and the activity they carry out constitutes unfair competition," the Spanish court services said in a statement after the ruling. In Thailand, too. And stateside, the government of Portland, Oregon thinks Uber's a big enough threat to justify a sting operation. Business Insider's keeping score.

Comments

Greasing Palms.

[geekmux]

Drivers "lack the administrative authorisation to carry out the job, and the activity they carry out constitutes unfair competition..."

So they lack the "administrative authorisation".

In other words, the proper corrupt palms haven't been greased yet.

I really wish we could stop sitting around bullshitting ourselves over the traditional cab companies, pretending those organizations didn't come to power or remain in power by using corruption.

I'd say it's pretty well evidenced here by the excuses used to try and shut down any non-traditional competition.

Oh, and screw what the customer wants. Like their opinion matters.

Re:Unlicensed taxi broker

[some old guy]

So true. To these people's thinking, medical licensing stifles innovation and competition too! We should have a web app to bypass over-priced hospitals and insurance companies, and summon an independent health practitioner. Let the free market decide!

Re:Unlicensed taxi broker

[LoyalOpposition]

Ultimately Uber is a broker for unlicensed taxi. There should be a restriction on unlicensed taxi on the roads. In other words, I'm surprised they exist anywhere. They really shouldn't, there are very good common sense reasons for insisting on licensed taxi.

I think that really should be the choice of the person choosing which taxi service to use. If four members of Seal team 6 decide to save a few bucks, risking the chance that the driver is going to attack the four of them, then they should have that choice. If Uber, or anyone, wishes to provide a service screening potential drivers, and if they are successful enough (read--as successful as standard taxi services, or nearly-so,) then they should have that choice. If soccer mom decides that Uber is safe enough for her concerns then she should have that choice. Frankly, this looks to me like a blatant attempt by the standard taxi companies to keep competition out of the market.

Apropos of nothing, I note that you wouldn't use such a service, so you're suggesting a law that wouldn't affect your choices, but which would keep other people from being able to make theirs.

~Loyal