The app-based taxi network Uber has faced yet another international setback as a court order has forced it to cease operating in Spain.

A judge in a Madrid mercantile court ruled on December 9 that Uber must halt all operations as the company's drivers do not have official authorization to act as taxis.

El Pais reports that on December 25, support services - such as credit card payment - were removed from the app, rendering it unusable. 

Uber has been active in Spain since the spring, when it launched in Barcelona. But as in many other countries, local taxis protested the introduction of the service.

Though Uber has agreed to respect the decision, it maintains that it is "not there for someone to make a living but rather to earn some extra cash from time to time," and so should not be held to the same standard as traditional taxi services.

The start-up, which has a current market valuation of €33.9b, has been banned in more than a dozen locations, with a ban in France due to begin on January 1.

Uber plans to maintain its presence is Spain, and will appeal for regulation change through the courts, or devise another solution within the current system.