"then pivot from hiring engineers to hiring lawyers." MS keeps it's monopoly via market power, generally not IP protections (though partly). MS is large enoug

"then pivot from hiring engineers to hiring lawyers." MS keeps it's monopoly via market power, generally not IP protections (though partly). MS is large enough vis-a-vis fragmented hardware vendors and distribution networks that it can do play all sorts of hardball. It has deeply entrenched sales channels in to the corporate world. Most significantly, it's a platform which means huge switching costs - and - it can use that platform as leverage into other spaces i.e. desktop software. Take a moment to contemplate out how Coke and Pepsi (ostensibly commodities) can dominate their channels in a supposedly free market - it's a little bit similar. Google's monopoly in search can be leveraged into all sorts of other areas. IP laws are beneficial for 'either side' and of course they are abused willy nilly, but by and large, they are beneficial to a lot of small companies. Weirdly, even Open Source is helped by IP laws - by 'turning them upside down' using 'copyleft', they wrestle the IP laws into their favour, as the means to 'protect' Open Source, if you will. We are so wrapped up in software - consider physical things. Often, they have very long development cycles, very expensive. Also - huge operating capital requirements and capex as well. (Why do you think there are so few YC hardware companies?). Also - distribution networks are locked up and very different from software where it's almost direct. It would be almost impossible to make a hardware company without IP protections, because those with market power would instantly commoditize the competition. Many other businesses are a little bit similar: as soon as it's not 'pure software' then you realize how fragile new companies are. For 'very new domains' (i.e. 'blue oceans') it's one thing, but most markets are not that. Once you put your 'anything but software' hat on for a bit, and see how those companies sit in the value chain, IP looks a little different. That understanding can map to software. If anything, we need better, more nuanced IP laws, not to get rid of them.