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That is not a naive understanding of American antitrust law; it's perfectly accurate. It's not illegal to have a monopoly, it's illegal to abuse your monopoly p
by Erik816 9y ago
That is not a naive understanding of American antitrust law; it's perfectly accurate. It's not illegal to have a monopoly, it's illegal to abuse your monopoly position to harm consumers. This is in contrast to EU antitrust law.
And yes, this is what I think the policy should be. We don't want to punish success. We want to protect consumers.
- sbov 9y agoWhich is odd, considering the plain language of the Sherman Anti Trust act not only makes monopolies illegal, but makes pursing a monopoly illegal. Has there been any laws passed that override this, or have the courts been unwilling to enforce the law as it's written?
- sokoloff 9y agoI can't see any area in which Amazon has a monopoly by the section 2 definition. What is it that I can only buy from or using Amazon and where there is no ready substitute in the market? (Saying I can't buy Amazon Basics AA batteries or an Echo doesn't count [IMO] as I can buy Duracells or Google Home things.) Almost invariably when I look for something on Amazon, I also do a Google shopping and Ebay check.
- sbov 9y agoI never claimed Amazon has a monopoly. I just hear what the GP posted a lot, but when reading the actual law it seems to be incorrect. So I'm trying to figure out why what the GP stated seems to have become the case: because lawmakers passed something else? Or courts didn't like it? Or what?
- lr4444lr 9y agoCase law defines coercive vs. innocent monopolies. https://www.antitrustcriminalattorney.com/antitrust-defenses/absence-of-agreement/innocent-monopoly/ https://www.antitrustcriminalattorney.com/antitrust-defenses...
- kerkeslager 9y ago> That is not a naive understanding of American antitrust law; it's perfectly accurate. I never said it was a naive understanding of American antitrust law. > And yes, this is what I think the policy should be. We don't want to punish success. We want to protect consumers. What is naive is thinking that current American antitrust law adequately protects consumers.