OpenTable is barring restaurants from sharing data with rival booking services without its permission, intensifying a fight for control of the information diners disclose when they make reservations online. The table-booking service will block restaurants from giving competitors access to diner data acquired through OpenTable unless they pay new fees, according to its updated client agreement and a copy of a new pricing plan viewed by The Wall Street Journal. ...
Table reservation service OpenTable is changing its rules to prevent restaurants sharing valuable customer data with rival booking services without permission. Customer data is used to help restaurants target diners, alter menus and track spending. Amazon-backed rival SevenRooms offers a similar service and some restaurant owners have accused OpenTable of trying to exclude its competitor from the market. The new rules, which will go into effect in July, require that all customers who book reservations through OpenTable, including those on mobile devices, be given an option to opt out if they so choose. OpenTable is reportedly considering charging restaurants a fee for integrating both companies' systems, while SevenRooms said the companies are in discussions to resolve the issue.