4 ms·

I have never understood the arguments that Apple doesn't have a monopoly or monopolies and thus should get away with all the anti-trust violations they get away

by bmitc 4y ago

I have never understood the arguments that Apple doesn't have a monopoly or monopolies and thus should get away with all the anti-trust violations they get away with. They definitely have monopolies when it comes to market power and influence, even if Android phones (which are split across several manufacturers) have a larger worldwide market share.

hangonhn 4y ago
This is the concept that's about to be tested in court. The majority of the revenue generating segment of the smartphone market is iOS while the majority of the overall smartphone market is Android. I get the sense that Apple did this on purpose but the Unity lawsuit may write a new chapter on what it means to be a monopoly. This Planet Money episode talks about this dilemma: https://www.npr.org/2020/09/18/914563075/apple-v-everybody https://www.npr.org/2020/09/18/914563075/apple-v-everybody
- bmitc 4y ago
  I'm going from memory, but I have looked into the actual definition of a monopoly in the context of anti-trust. If I recall correctly, it doesn't even explicitly say that you need a market majority. It basically says that if you have undue market influence and power and use it then you have a monopoly. A market majority is simply one of the most common ways that that is attained. Again, that is from memory. I'd have to search for the language again to be sure. Like you point out though with it being tested in court, maybe precedence is strong. Those laws and definitions were written a long time ago. Today's companies like Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon are very different from companies of yesteryear.
- Razengan 4y ago
  Sounds like simple jealousy. How dare someone with less users than us make more money?!
  - bmitc 4y ago
    Apple is probably the biggest bully of a company in the world. They absolutely don't just make more money. They use their power to ensure they make more money.
  - Razengan 4y ago
    *Fewer
abigail95 4y ago
You're allowed to make a messaging app that doesn't interop with others. Is the point you're making that that Apple shouldn't be allowed to release its own messaging app? What's the anti-trust violation here?
- lopis 4y ago
  When you are the gatekeeper to the biggest mobile market, the rules are different for you.

by bmitc 4y ago

hangonhn 4y ago

This is the concept that's about to be tested in court. The majority of the revenue generating segment of the smartphone market is iOS while the majority of the overall smartphone market is Android. I get the sense that Apple did this on purpose but the Unity lawsuit may write a new chapter on what it means to be a monopoly. This Planet Money episode talks about this dilemma: https://www.npr.org/2020/09/18/914563075/apple-v-everybody https://www.npr.org/2020/09/18/914563075/apple-v-everybody

bmitc 4y ago
I'm going from memory, but I have looked into the actual definition of a monopoly in the context of anti-trust. If I recall correctly, it doesn't even explicitly say that you need a market majority. It basically says that if you have undue market influence and power and use it then you have a monopoly. A market majority is simply one of the most common ways that that is attained. Again, that is from memory. I'd have to search for the language again to be sure. Like you point out though with it being tested in court, maybe precedence is strong. Those laws and definitions were written a long time ago. Today's companies like Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon are very different from companies of yesteryear.
Razengan 4y ago
Sounds like simple jealousy. How dare someone with less users than us make more money?!
- bmitc 4y ago
  Apple is probably the biggest bully of a company in the world. They absolutely don't just make more money. They use their power to ensure they make more money.
- Razengan 4y ago
  *Fewer

abigail95 4y ago

You're allowed to make a messaging app that doesn't interop with others. Is the point you're making that that Apple shouldn't be allowed to release its own messaging app? What's the anti-trust violation here?

lopis 4y ago
When you are the gatekeeper to the biggest mobile market, the rules are different for you.