A group of New York City yellow cab fleet owners has jumped into the fray over “e-hails.”

The New York Times says the Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade is getting involved in the city’s side of a court case. The group says the outcome will affect its business model.

Livery cab owners have sued over new rules that would let riders use their smartphones to “e-hail” yellow cabs.

They argue that the regulations would violate a law that bans yellow-cab drivers from prearranging rides with passengers.

The yellow-cab owners disagree. They say “e-hails” count as “street hails.”

(AP)