definition as defined by the courts: (http://www.ftc.gov/speeches/swindle/federalist990930.htm )
1.When does a firm have "monopoly power" in the market for a high-tech product? Courts have defined monopoly power to be "the power to control prices or exclude competition." 2.Consumer Harm: includes higher prices ----- Original Message ----- From: "Neil Schneider" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Main Discussion List for KPLUG" <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Google office (Microsoft officals predict) Date: Fri, 6 May 2005 15:02:16 -0700 (PDT) > > > Stewart Stremler said: > > begin quoting Todd Walton as of Fri, May 06, 2005 at 08:00:31AM > > -0700: > >> On 5/5/05, DJA <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> > In practical economic terms Microsoft /is/ a monopoly in the > >> operating > >> > system market. In that market Linux is still little more than a > >> Glob Fly. > >> > >> Well, "monopoly" usually means something more than just successful. > > > > Yes. > > > >> It usually implies some kind of extra-market wrong-doing. > > > > Wikipedia sez: -- In economics, a monopoly (from the Greek monos, > > one > > + polein, to sell) is defined as a persistent market situation where > > there is only one provider of a kind of product or service. > > Monopolies > > are characterized by a lack of economic competition for the good or > > service that they provide, a lack of viable substitute goods, as > > well > > as high barriers to entry for potential competitors on the market. > > Here's another definition: > > Monopoly-An unfair advantage or control of the market place with > regard to the trade of certain goods or services. This type of > exclusive marketing advantage serves to restrict competition in that > particular activity. > > Monopoly-A state of exclusive or near-exclusive ownership or control > of a commodity, service or facility through legal privilege, command > of supply or concerted action, making possible the manipulation of > prices. > > > I spent a few moments reading verious definitions, and I didn't find > > any that implied some kind of extra-market wrong-doing. > > A monopoly doesn't necessarily entail wrong-doing. On the other hand, > if you have a monopoly who is going to tell you you're doing wrong? > > > When we discuss the ramifications of monopolies, we eventually end up > > there, but I don't think it's useful to extend the term to > > automatically > > include the presumption of wrong-doing. Otherwise, we need to think > > of > > another term to describe an exclusive seller that is not engaged in > > some > > sort of wrong-doing. > > There is no presumption in the definition. However, a monopoly gives > the possesor of that monopoly unlimited power over price, quality and > suitability of use of hte product that they sell. For most mortal > humans that's too much temptation. > > -- > Neil Schneider pacneil_at_linuxgeek_dot_net > http://www.paccomp.com > Key fingerprint = 67F0 E493 FCC0 0A8C 769B 8209 32D7 1DB1 8460 C47D > Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who > are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it - Mark Twain > > > > -- > [email protected] > http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list -- ___________________________________________________________ Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
