Uber, GoCatch should negotiate an outcome, judge says
Make us a preferred source
Make us a preferred source on Google
The news: Uber and former Australian rival GoCatch would be "well served" in negotiating an outcome in their ongoing Supreme Court of Victoria lawsuit, Judge Lisa Nichols has said.
The context: Following evidence from both former GoCatch and Uber executives, Nichols said she had heard a significant amount of evidence and while she couldn't force the companies to negotiate and the trial would continue, an associate justice would make contact with the companies to see if they "want to take that opportunity".
While it's uncertain as to what exactly has prompted Nichols to make the announcement, the court has seen Uber emails including acknowledgement that they were breaking the law in their initial operations.
"I do this from time to time and I think it's appropriate to raise that with you," Nichols said.
GoCatch alleges Uber breached transport laws and allowed unregistered drivers to operate on its ridesharing app while it sought to "squash" its Australian rival.
The company has also alleged Uber engaged in corporate espionage and is seeking damages in its lawsuit.
The court saw Uber presentations on Thursday from 2015 detailing "surfcam" use in a number of cities around the world — spyware to access rivals' data, including GoCatch.
Former Uber head of ANZ operations Mike Abbott told the court he knew a colleague was "working on some sort of competitive intelligence tool overseas, but I don't know what tools he was using at that time".
Last month, Uber reached a $271.8 million settlement with more than 8,000 taxi drivers who had alleged the company set up in Australia illegally and in doing so, caused them financial harm. The settlement was reached without admission of liability by Uber.
GoCatch shut down its transport offering and app in 2021 and now operates a small private bookings business.
The source: Supreme Court of Victoria
