Vugo is a Midwest-based tech startup that allows drivers for ride-sharing services, such as Uber and Lyft, to make extra money by displaying advertising and other media on tablet devices in their vehicles.
Vugo has seen success in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Minneapolis – but not in Chicago. That is because the City of Chicago has banned commercial advertising in and on ride-sharing vehicles – even though it does not ban ads in or on taxis or ordinary passenger vehicles – effectively making Vugo’s service illegal.
Chicago’s advertising ban has also affected Chicago resident Patricia Page. She received a citation for violating the advertising ban because she used her car – which had decals advertising her face-painting business on the side and back – to drive part-time for Uber.
The Liberty Justice Center is representing Vugo, Patricia, and other ride-share drivers in a federal lawsuit challenging Chicago’s ban on commercial advertising in and on ride-sharing vehicles for violating their constitutional rights to free speech and equal protection under the law.
Jeffrey M. Schwab is a Senior Counsel at the Liberty Justice Center, where he litigates cases to protect the rights to free speech, economic liberty, private property and other Constitutional rights in both federal and state courts across the country.
(The Chicago Tribune)—A Minneapolis technology company has sued the city of Chicago for banning advertising inside the private cars used by Uber, Lyft and other ride-share company drivers. Vugo, founded in 2015 and looking to expand its digital advertising business to ride-sharing vehicles here, filed a federal lawsuit Thursday in...
(Illinois Policy Institute)—As Amazon considers pulling its HQ2 out of New York City, Chicago is considering imposing a “robot tax” on companies looking to automate their way around high labor costs. Chicago would impose a “robot tax” on companies as a penalty for automating, under a proposal that may soon...
(Illinois Policy Institute)—Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel brands his city as “the digital mecca of the Midwest.” But what happens when politicians tilt the playing field toward entrenched interests? Enter Vugo, a promising Midwest tech startup now suing the city for banning its business. Starting up James Bellefeuille used to moonlight...
(CBS)—The City of Chicago is being sued for prohibiting advertising in ridesharing vehicles, such as those from Uber or Lyft. WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports. The lawsuit is filed on behalf of Vugo, a company that wants to put targeted video ads in ridesharing cars. Jeffrey Schwab, staff attorney...
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