Sharing

Software that you can carry in your pocket is changing the way everyone transacts business, that is, buys stuff they want or need. Part of the picture is the "sharing economy," which would include "car sharing."

"Uber" is a convenient way to match up a driver with someone who wants a ride. Here is the simple idea,  "I want a ride, and you have a car and a few minutes. We could never find each other on our own [without Uber's software platform] . . "

But California wants to jump in and spoil the simple idea. CA lawyers claim that drivers are not independent contractors, but employees - which would allow the government to add costs and regs.

"California is on the verge of freezing out one of the most useful and innovative software platforms of the last decade."

(cont'd tomorrow)