Europe's top court says Airbnb isn't a real estate firm
Airbnb: online accommodation service - or property agent?
In the European Union, it's now to be thought of as the first of those, following a ruling on Thursday (December 19) by the EU Court of Justice.
The decision from the bloc's top court followed a complaint from the French tourism association ...
Which said the U.S. firm should be subjected to French rules and regulations on real estate.
The court instead upheld Airbnb's classification as an 'information society service'.
Though the issue does underline the challenge regulators face with new online services moving into traditional businesses.
It's not the first time Airbnb has hit opposition in France.
In November, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo was reported as taking issue issue with Airbnb's sponsorship deal for the Olympic Games.
Paris is host in 2024.
Hidalgo was quoted as saying the deal - to supply accommodation during the Games - will push working people out of the housing market, cause a nuisance for residents and destabilise local trade.
Airbnb welcomed Thursday's ruling.
We have worked, they said, with more than 500 governments to help people share homes, follow the rules and pay tax.
But the U.S. firm has in recent years battled with hoteliers and authorities in cities from New York to Amsterdam and Berlin.
