TechCrunch Daily Crunch

How a decade-old patent dispute could upend Uber’s business

May 31, 2025
A major patent dispute could reshape Uber's entire business landscape, sparking discussions about its implications for the tech industry. The ongoing lawsuit with Karma Technology centers on ride-sharing innovations, raising intriguing questions about intellectual property rights. Meanwhile, the startup world sees its own shifts, highlighted by Grammarly's new funding and Misfits Market's recent acquisition. Plus, Gemini's new feature promises automatic email summarization, streamlining communication for users.
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INSIGHT

Karma's ride-sharing patents vs Uber

  • Karma Technology holds patents on ride-sharing vehicle capacity matching systems that Uber allegedly infringed.
  • This legal challenge could impact Uber's business model and others using similar technology.
INSIGHT

Uber knew of Karma's patents early

  • Uber was aware of Karma's patents as early as 2015 when the USPTO rejected its application due to existing patents.
  • Karma is targeting Uber first but expects about 60 other companies may infringe the same patents.
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