How Airports Became Ground Zero In the Battle For Peer-to-Peer Car Rentals

curtwoodward writes: "Even in libertarian-infused Silicon Valley, playing nice with the government can be a smart move. That's the attitude at RelayRides, a peer-to-peer car rental service that plans to expand at airports by getting permission first. On the other side is FlightCar, a competitor that would rather fight the power in court. The next couple of years should tell us which approach is smarter. Similar battles are becoming almost routine as startups born of the digital economy confront the real world’s established power systems, particularly in the emerging 'sharing economy,' where online tools help networks of consumers rent things to each other. And as these young companies try to manage rapid growth and fend off threats to their survival, the decision about whether to fight regulators or accommodate them can become another way to gain a competitive edge."

Re:another great example...

[Jack Griffin]

Don't get too carried away, this is all part of the free market process. As you say, Incumbents try to protect and conserve, new players try to innovate and liberalise. The fact that this condition exists means we live in a healthy free market. Sure innovator may not win every battle, but if yo mapped long or even medium term change then innovation, and the free market is winning.

Re:What is it with curtwoodward?

[Anonymous Coward]

if a cab does not have a fare riding in it, is it suddenly a private vehicle and not the cab company's responsibility?

Was the Uber driver out driving that night for any reason other than wishing to land an Uber fare contract in order to earn some money?