Airbnb avoids tougher regulation in Europe as EU court rules its not an estate agent

Airbnb has won a court battle in the EU affecting how the company is regulated in the future. The EU’s top court has ruled that Airbnb is not an estate agent but an “information society service,” meaning it can avoid certain responsibilities.

The challenge to Airbnb was brought by a French tourism and hotel association, but the decision from the Court of Justice of the European Union means the US company will continue to operate as an e-commerce platform, without being subject to property rules.

These include France’s tough Hoguet law, which could have led to criminal sanctions for Airbnb. The company could have also faced new constraints in other key markets like Amsterdam, Paris, and London. In response to the ruling, Airbnb told B...

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