Is Uber a Taxi Company or Not? The EU's Top Court Will Decide

Uber says shouldn’t be treated like a normal taxi service
EU top court decision could affect wider gig economy too

A man poses holding a smartphone showing the App for ride-sharing cab service Uber in London on September 22, 2017.London transport authorities announced Friday they would not renew Uber's licence to operate in the city when it expires on September 30 for safety reasons, although it has three weeks to appeal. / AFP PHOTO / Ben FATHERS (Photo credit should read BEN FATHERS/AFP/Getty Images)
Photographer: Ben Fathers/AFP via Getty Images

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By Stephanie Bodoni and Adam Satariano

December 19, 2017 at 4:00 AM UTC

Updated on

December 19, 2017 at 10:42 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Uber Technologies Inc. is set to reach the end of the road in a legal battle over a question that’s reached the European Union’s top court -- is the world’s most valuable startup a taxi company or not?

Uber has argued that it’s a technology platform connecting passengers with independent drivers, not a transportation company subject to the same rules as taxi services. The decision is being closely watched by the technology industry because it could set a precedent for how firms in the burgeoning gig economy are regulated across the 28-nation bloc.