This argument that local laws can't be followed because "what would other jurisdictions do" doesn't seem to apply to authoritarian places like China who impose pretty onerous requirements for operation (like state ownership).

There is another option for Uber/Lyft - to let drivers set their prices and/or routes. Of course, that would make them less of a unicorn and more of a utility and that would crater their valuation.

> There is another option for Uber/Lyft - to let drivers set their prices and/or routes. Of course, that would make them less of a unicorn and more of a utility and that would crater their valuation.

That isn't enough, is it? Don't they still fail the "core business functionality" part of the test?

I'm not making an argument for or against Uber. Just explaining why they didn't just eat the cost of this because it would have been insignificant/cheaper than fighting it.