Axios

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit from a group of drivers challenging a new Seattle law that will allow ride-hailing drivers to unionize, according to Geekwire. The judge also lifted an injunction on the law that stemmed from a similar lawsuit.

Why it matters: As independent contractors, drivers for services like Uber and Lyft can't unionize and bargain collectively. The companies have resisted most labor regulations or restrictions when it comes to drivers, including benefits and fingerprinting requirements. Uber unsuccessfully tried to challenge the law earlier this year.

• The lawsuit was filed by a group of drivers who claimed that "Seattle's law violates federal labor law as well as their First Amendment rights of free speech and freedom of association by forcing them to unionize and pay dues," as Geekwire notes.
• The ride-hailing companies will now have to hand over contact information for their drivers so that labor organizations that want to potentially represent them can contact them to garner support for a union vote.

"The original ordinance passed by the City Council was never about benefiting drivers, but about helping Teamsters and taxi companies," said Uber Pacific Northwest general manager Brooke Steger.

"Lyft continues to believe this ordinance could undermine the flexibility of drivers to choose when, where and for how long they drive -- the very things that make Lyft so attractive to drivers and useful for passengers," said Lyft in a statement.

The story has been updated with a statement from Uber.

Samsung Electronics vice chairman Jay Y. Lee was found guilty of bribery, embezzlement and perjury by a South Korean Court, slapping him with a five year prison sentence, according to local news reports. Lee is expected to appeal the verdict.

South Korea's special prosecutor's office accused Lee of bribing a friend of former President Park Geun-hye in exchange for government favors, allegedly including approval of a 2015 merger between Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries. That deal consolidated the Lee family's power over Samsung Electronics, according to CNBC.

Why it matters: The jail sentence won't have much impact on the global day-to-day operations of Samsung because Lee is not the face of the flagship brand, but it creates some uncertainty about long-term management. The case renews criticism about the close relationship between South Korea's large, family-run conglomerates (called chaebols) and the country's government.