Platform economy database
Database of initiatives and court cases in the EU
Eurofound’s platform economy database provides information on 411 initiatives and court cases that exist or have been implemented in relation to activities in the platform economy. The database was last updated in March 2025 and provides metadata for each entry, such as geographical scope, year, type of initiative, actors involved, sector and companies concerned. Initiatives include legal instruments such as legislative changes or court decisions, as well as voluntary interventions undertaken by different stakeholders to address issues around platform work.
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Germany
In a judgement dated December 11, 2015 (Ref: 5 U 31/15), the Kammergericht (KG) Berlin, acting as the court of appeal, ruled that the "Uber Black" business model largely violated German competition law. The court upheld a ban sought by a Berlin taxi operator, finding Uber Black's service anti-competitive unless the rides were offered at cost price.
The core reasons for the ruling were:
The following recent changes to this court ruling have been recorded.
On January 29, 2019, Germany's Federal Court of Justice ruled that the Uber Black app is illegal, violating the German Passenger Transport Act. * The court found Uber Black contravened regulations by allowing drivers to accept ride requests directly, rather than through their company's business premises, as required by law. * This rule is considered a professional practice guideline, which doesn't infringe on occupational freedom but dictates operational methods. * The ban aligns with EU service provision laws, as transport services, like those offered by Uber, are exempt from the freedom to provide services. * Uber's service model, including pricing and conditions, is viewed as integral to transport services. * Uber was held responsible for violations of competition law by its partner companies and drivers.
The platform economy is one of those moving targets, which, despite receiving increasing media and policy attention, has proven difficult to regulate. Given the heterogeneity of employment relationships, business models, types of platform work and cross-border issues, this is not surprising.
Technological change is accelerating as the capacity of electronic devices to digitally store, process and communicate information expands. Digitalisation is transforming the EU economy and labour markets: nearly one-third of EU workplaces are categorised as highly digitalised. What are the implications of the digital revolution for employment and work?
The rapid rise of the platform economy has led to a marked transformation of European labour markets, and existing regulatory frameworks and voluntary initiatives have yet to catch up. While platform work offers opportunities for workers and employers and potentially contributes to innovation, economic growth and competitiveness in the EU, it has been criticised from the beginning because of the poor employment and working conditions often experienced by workers.
While 2020 may come to be seen as the year platform work gathered pace and started to go mainstream – thanks in large part to COVID-19 containment measures sparking an increase in food and grocery delivery – 2021 could be the year that regulation of platform work is set in motion.
