Whats the difference in between a corporation that dominates the life and choices of one half of the population and a feudal lord that does the same. The 'pate

Whats the difference in between a corporation that dominates the life and choices of one half of the population and a feudal lord that does the same. The 'paternalistic Eu' is at least comprised of officials appointed through democratically elected parliamentarians. What kind of democratic powre does the public have in the decisions that Apple takes? What has the result of 'free market' mechanics been, other than increasingly dominate people's lives to maximize profit all the way to reducing their phone's performance just at the right time when a new version is going out to force them to upgrade?