In the middle of a complicated scenario for Airbnb and Uber in Catalunya, the Catalan Competition Authority (ACCO) issued the study “P2P transactions and competition” (.pdf) The document is an approach to the technology innovation of marketplaces (websites or mobile applications) that turn out to be a meeting point between supply and demand, and which… Read more
After long negotiations and debate, the Amsterdam College of Mayor and Alderpersons has officially allowed the occasional rental of property by its principal occupier. According to Alderperson Freek Ossel this form of rental is an “additional form of accommodation that dovetails with a hospitable Amsterdam.” However, to maintain its ‘occasional character’ persons renting out their… Read more
Ridesharing companies such as Uber, Lyft, and SideCar face heavy opposition from licensed taxi companies. The collaborative consumption services don’t have their own cars but offer rides with existing transportation companies or individuals. Still, the taxi lobby fears that drivers will lose their monopoly on taxi services and therefore job security will not be granted. They suggest… Read more
Until recently, collaborative businesses have fallen below the radar when it comes to government regulation. The entrepreneurs driving the sector insist this is helping them to experiment, to innovate and, ultimately, to grow. That could be about to change. Why the regulators’ sudden interest? Three main reasons. First is scale. The rule enforcers are beginning… Read more
In the city of Gravataí in the southern part of Brazil, instead of targeting real criminals, local government organized a special operation with thirty military officers and transit agents to arrest citizens who charged for rides as an extra source of income. The operation was organized not only by the Military Police but also by… Read more
The ridesharing regulatory debate has flared again—this time in Los Angeles with a cease and desist letter sent to Uber, Sidecar, and Lyft yesterday. The debate questions whether these services are in fact livery businesses (which require a license) or are simply digital marketplaces facilitating connections between drivers and riders. While this isn’t the first… Read more
The Shareable Cities Resolution was adopted by the US Conference of Mayors yesterday! The resolution, co-sponsored by fifteen mayors including Mayor Lee of San Francisco and Mayor Bloomberg of New York City, states that mayors resolve to make their cities more shareable, encourage better understanding of the sharing economy, and create local task forces to… Read more
We all know about the upside of collaborative consumption — more efficient use of excess capacity, closer-knit communities, reduced costs, increased sustainability, and a more hopeful economic and social future. However, collaborative consumption models have recently raised flags against regulations designed to ensure safety and fairness for service providers and consumers alike. For example, different… Read more
Hosts on apartment-sharing platform Airbnb face uncertainty as tax and regulatory issues are raised in local courts. In the spring of 2012, San Francisco confirmed that short-term rentals are subject to the city’s 15% transient occupancy taxes, and New York City recently issued a $2,400 fine to an Airbnb host renting out his apartment to… Read more