> Uber has not been banned in Germany. They provided an illegal service and have never applied for a permit. They have never been legal. They also had drivers operate without the required health certificates and without the required insurance. (The usual "independent contractor and we're just an intermediary" dance didn't fly either - if you're soliciting an illegal service you're not protected by law just be because you're not directly providing the service.)
Please also note that not all of Ubers services in Germany have been illegal and some still operate. Notably, the classic car-for-hire service is legal, but seems to be making losses, so yes, they failed.

My experience in berlin was that all uber drivers were taxis and as such the rates they had were comparable if not the same to taxi rates. There could be conditions that I did not see as a tourist, but if Uber could freely move its prices it would have been substantially cheaper that regular taxis. It is so even in argentina, where the service is outright declared illegal.

> The following describes the situation in Berlin. Since Taxi regulation is partly local, things will differ slightly elsewhere, but the gist applies. Data is from 2012, so somewhat outdated but nothing major changed.

Monopoly is not an important benefit for the local taxi industry. There are about 3000 Taxi companies in Berlin, of which the large majority owns 1 car and only about 10% own three or more cars (about 7000 cars, one per 500 inhabitants). Taxi licenses in Berlin are effectively unrestricted. If you want one, prove that you're not convicted of a crime that makes you ineligible, fill in a 6 page form and hand proof of insurance and some papers, pay a fee, wait. Drivers need to pass a health check every few years (vision test etc) and a one-time knowledge test. All in all, a few hundred to a low thousand EUR and you're in business.

However, Uber didn't even consider applying for a local license here, well, "because". They consciously chose to run an unlicensed Taxi service and spin it as if they'd be unfairly treated by authorities. (Eine Runde Mitleid)
Licenses may be restricted in other jurisdictions or even - since it's a part of the public transport network, Taxis may even be subsidized (Ruftaxi for example)
Benefits that Taxis enjoy is that they're allowed to use lanes restricted for public transport (they are public transport) and may stop on any road at any time to pick up passengers. There are restricted parking spaces at airports, train stations and in central locations that are reserved for taxis.

Thanks for the specific Berlin regulations!

I only saw what I saw, didnt look much into it. If the licenses are relatively unrestricted (cheap, easy to obtain and unlimited) then there is very little stopping a regular person from going through that process and joining Uber. Uber could assist in abiding a very easy regulation and i attest that they tend to not even follow the easy ones (In argentina, they didnt even get a tax id). They deserve and it is just that the law applies to them.

Still, prices are still regulated in berlin, meaning that you cant have the business model of uber work the way it usually does, by combining low-earning drivers with consumers. Also, do taxis require to have car identification? That is another way to restrict low-earning drivers into the market. Etc etc.

If it only were doing basic, cheap and unrestricted access to taxi licenses, then anyone would do it and join uber, without uber needing to do much.