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Uber insurance is valid only when the driver has the app on


US lawyer warns of risks of using ‘reckless’ firms


THE SHARING ECONOMY IS A ‘MARKETING PLOY’, ACCORDING TOA US LAWYER. IAN TAYLOR REPORTS FROMTHE ITM TRAVEL MANAGERS’ CONFERENCE


A former US transport regulator has dismissed the sharing economy as “a marketing ploy” and accused taxi app Uber of “flouting the law”.


Lawyer Matthew Daus of New


York law firm Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf told the Institute of Travel Management (ITM) Conference: “There is no sharing going on most of the time. This is an American-based marketing ploy that has expanded globally.


72 travelweekly.co.uk 12 May 2016


These companies are deceptively marketing their services.” Daus argued: “Disruption does


not have to be done illegally. [But] this movement started by violating the law. “Uber and Airbnb have tapped


into a libertarian philosophy. Government and regulations are demonised. Small businesses are demonised. They say it’s not innovation unless you let us do what we want.”


Referring to Uber, he said:


“They have broken the law to build a market position. “People have been put on the


road without insurance [and] criminal record checks.” But he insisted: “This is far


from over. There are more than 50 lawsuits pending [against Uber] in the US.” Uber recently paid $100 million


to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by drivers in California to avoid a court ruling on whether drivers should be classed as employees rather than as independent contractors.


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