Inline Insights

There was no room for agreement, and no agreement about rooms, in court on Tuesday in Albany.

The stewards of the sharing economy think regulators should invent new rules to accommodate their innovative business practices. Regulators think these companies and their customers should accommodate themselves to the old laws.

The short-term rental company Airbnb made waves when it announced that it will start collecting San Francisco’s 14 percent hotel tax from its guests in the city. And while this may be a first step in assuaging critics, it probably won’t be the last. It’s no secret that San Francisco Board of Supervisors President David Chiu is working on regulations for short-term rental companies like Airbnb, but on Wednesday a representative from Chiu’s office offered more specifics about what those regulations will likely include.

New rules for unregulated rideshare companies such as Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar passed the Illinois House on Thursday over complaints the push was aimed at stifling competition to the state’s powerful taxi industry.

The chamber voted 80-26 to support legislation sponsored by Rep. Michael Zalewski, D-Riverside, who described his measure as a “comprehensive, thoughtful” consumer-protection step.

“We want to ensure licensure. We want to ensure insurance coverage, and we want to ensure safety of our constituents,” Zalewski told his House colleagues.

The French government is preparing to take legal action against urban rideshare service UberPop, claiming it is providing an illegal taxi service by making a profit from its service, under the guise of carpooling.  The UberPop service was launched in France by Uber two months ago, offering a service where individuals can offer lifts to others in their personal cars for a fee.

For a guy who is supposed to be selling electric cars, Mike Kelly isn't a big fan.