Uber wins temporary victory in French court, allowing UberPOP to operate for now

Uber won a reprieve for its low-cost car sharing service today when a Paris court ruled in the company’s favor in a complex legal dispute.

The Cour d’Appel de Paris handed down a decision that said the San Francisco-based ride-hailing company had raised substantial issues about the legality of a new French law passed last year regarding such services. Thus, the Paris court said it would refrain from making its own ruling in a case involving Uber until France’s highest appeals court had ruled on the matter and clarified the new regulations.

“Uber is committed to working with local authorities to improve urban mobility with transport options that help to reduce drunk driving, pollution and congestion whilst better connecting underserved areas,” Uber said in a statement issued after the ruling. “Uber is bringing real choice to mobility and the transportation industry, an industry that hasn’t changed in decades.”

While UberPOP can continue operating in France, the latest round falls short of giving the company the full legal vindication it hopes to eventually achieve. The Thévenoud Law, passed last year in France to create new rules around ride-hailing services, still presents a potential legal hurdle if it is fundamentally upheld by France’s highest courts.

In addition, France’s taxi industry continues to lobby against Uber, which continues to fight a long list of regulatory battles across Europe. The company has recently struck a more conciliatory tone, highlighting its potential to create jobs and relieve traffic congestion if it can reach settlements with regulators across the continent.