German court bans Uber’s unlicensed taxi services

A German court Wednesday banned Uber from running services using unlicensed cab drivers and set stiff fines for any violations of local transport laws by the pioneering online taxi firm.

Uber, worth an estimated $40 billion, making it the world’s most valuable venture-backed startup, has set out to revolutionize local transport services worldwide, from taxis to carpools to fast-food delivery.

Born out of the frustration of two Silicon Valley entrepreneurs trying to catch a cab in Paris, Uber’s popular mobile phone taxi-hailing services have mushroomed since being launched in 2010 and are offered in nearly 270 cities worldwide.