Introduction

Abstract

The following chapter introduces the overall subject of analysis. The first part offers basic information on what sort of an enterprise Uber and similar companies represent, placing such companies into the context of global competition. A special focus is placed on whether Uber’s business model represents a true disruption of traditional models of carriage of passengers’ services in general, or whether it represents a disruption in terms of a law violation. Similarly, the Introduction chapter examines to what extents the term “Uberification” represents positive appearances in the transportation market, and in what cases it connotes negative manifestations in commercial and consumer practices (such as monopoly aspirations, labor-related issues, forced arbitration issues, security issues, data protection issues, traffic, and public transport related issues, taxation issues and similar). Finally, a separate section is devoted to the issue of legal sanctions in general.

It should be noted that certain terms used through-out the monograph have the same meaning (i.e., Uber’s application/Uber’s digital platform/Uber’s digital service; transportation options/transportation services; Uber drivers/Uber partner drivers; Uber’s service/Uber service; and similar), whereas some terms are specifically meant as points of differentiation (i.e., public transport refers to transport in general; public transportation refers to both public and private transportation options; public-private or private transportation refer to the providers of taxi services and rent-a-car with driver services; and similar). In addition, some terms, although refereeing to a particular object, have a broader meaning (i.e., when referring to the term Uber’s business model, the same is, in general terms, applicable to all other companies (mentioned in the present chapter and other places) offering similar kinds of services and employing a similar business model). Finally, through-out monograph the term Uber service refers to the particular categories of Uber services designed to carry passengers by road. Uber, however, tends to offer a plethora of different services (i.e., “Uber”, “UberX”, “UberXL”, “UberPOP”, “UberBLACK”, “UberSELECT”, “UberSUV”, “UberLUX”, “UberBERLINE”, “UberVAN”, “UberEXEC” “UberFRESH”, “UberRUSH”, “UberEATS”, and others), some of which are designated to carry passengers, some goods, whereas others offer totally different kinds of services (such as renting electric bikes and scooters). It should, finally, be stressed that a particular service, for example UberX, offered in one jurisdiction, does not necessarily correspond to a service of the same name offered in another jurisdiction, having in mind that Uber tends to adapt, as much as possible, to particular conditions in particular jurisdictions, in order to (at least try to) fulfill certain goals.