Uber's legal action against DoorDash prevails, as DoorDash's attempt to contest it fails.
Uber's lawsuit against DoorDash over allegations of anti-competitive practices in the delivery market is currently ongoing, following a California Superior Court judge's decision to deny DoorDash's motion to dismiss the case.
The lawsuit, filed by Uber in February 2025, accuses DoorDash of using illegal tactics to secure exclusive first-party delivery contracts with restaurants. Testimony from more than a dozen restaurant brands indicated that they cancelled deals with Uber due to DoorDash threatening them with higher rates or other penalties if they did not enter into exclusive or preferred delivery contracts with DoorDash.
DoorDash, on the other hand, has countered that the lawsuit is meritless and is a strategic legal attack because Uber cannot compete effectively with DoorDash. The company emphasizes its market dominance in first-party delivery, where delivery orders are placed directly through the restaurant's website or app but fulfilled by third-party couriers. According to the suit, over 90 of the 100 largest U.S. restaurant brands have exclusive or preferred first-party delivery contracts with DoorDash.
In the court's ruling, five of DoorDash’s six objections were dismissed, but Uber was granted the opportunity to revise one argument. The judge also ruled that Uber's argument is strong enough to move forward to the discovery phase.
DoorDash remains confident in its position and will continue to vigorously defend itself against Uber's claims. The company believes that as the case progresses, the facts will make clear that the lawsuit is nothing more than a scare tactic from a company struggling to innovate and seeking to avoid real competition.
No further updates about trial dates or settlements have been reported as of early August 2025.
Sources: - Restaurant Business Online, "DoorDash loses its challenge to Uber lawsuit," July 22, 2025 - Eatzy.net, "DoorDash loses its challenge to Uber lawsuit," July 25, 2025
The ongoing lawsuit between Uber and DoorDash, initially filed in February 2025, highlights the contentious business landscape in the food delivery market, with technology playing a significant role. Uber alleges DoorDash's use of exclusive first-party delivery contracts with restaurants, enforced through threats and penalties, is anti-competitive and aims to stifle competition in the finance aspect of the business.
