Sometimes “competition takes the form of ‘creative destruction,’ whereby an innovator uses a new technology or business model to transform an industry.”1 For example, Apple’s iPod revolutionized the portable music market and quickly eliminated compact discs from competition. This innovative competition can push markets forward and force companies to adapt to new, challenging problems—all to the benefit of consumers. However, fear of creative destruction can lead existing competitors to oppose the disruptive innovator. Uber is a recent example of this type of response in the vehicle-for-hire industry. Since entering the market in 2009, Uber has run into frequent opposition from taxi associations and local governments, which in turn has spawned several interesting antitrust disputes.

Two recent decisions, Wallen v. St. Louis Metropolitan Cab Commission2 and Meyer v. Kalanick,3 reflect some of the antitrust issues facing Uber in these battles with incumbents. In Wallen, Uber is fighting against a local agency that has sought to prevent Uber from operating in St. Louis. In Meyer, Uber is working to justify its business model and pricing algorithms against charges of anticompetitive price-fixing. Below are summaries of the denials of the motions to dismiss in both cases and the antitrust implications raised by the decisions.

‘Wallen’

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