Uber banned in Brussels

A commercial court in Brussels, Belgium, declared on Jan. 3 that the activities of the ride-sharing company Uber were illegal. The court determined that only drivers with taxi licenses driving for approved taxi companies could be hired for rides in the city.

Belgium's government is split between two semiautonomous sides: the French-speaking southern half and the Dutch-speaking northern half. Due to the split, the court's ruling only affects Uber in the Dutch areas of the country, which includes Brussels. Uber is still free to operate in the French section.