I think the protest is not directed towards the right direction, but Parisian taxi drivers need to buy a license which is like 200 k. They see this investment go down the drain as new businesses like uber appear.
I know, I am from Paris :).
But my point is "why not accept it's maybe time to change some "things"".
Why we use Uber? it's geek (ok its a point) but mostly because:
-nice and clean car
-nice people
-good service
-moderne (phone, payement,...)
I am sure it's possible to modernise cabs of Paris (and other cities)(hmm maybe time to think about a new project! ;))