Yes: we should be developing the next innovations/paradigm_shifts that are irresistably attractive to web surfers. ...and combining the wisdom of others' startup experiences to create meaningful, sustainable business models for monetizing how web linkage can work.
Ask HN: If Google is a monopoly, should we be doing anything about it?
11–20 of 41 posts
Re: Ask HN: If Google is a monopoly, should we be doing anything about it?
#12Is eBay?
Re: Ask HN: If Google is a monopoly, should we be doing anything about it?
#13As far as I understand, the legality of a monopoly depends on whether it takes anticompetitive actions. Microsoft wasn't put down just for being big -- it was put down for including Internet Explorer into operating system, thus using an unfair advantage to promote its monopoly.
And how do we know that Google isn't taking anti-competitive actions?
If we want to accuse Google of taking anti-competitive actions, we have to at least decide what those actions are.
Re: Ask HN: If Google is a monopoly, should we be doing anything about it?
#14As far as I understand, the legality of a monopoly depends on whether it takes anticompetitive actions. Microsoft wasn't put down just for being big -- it was put down for including Internet Explorer into operating system, thus using an unfair advantage to promote its monopoly.
And how do we know that Google isn't taking anti-competitive actions?
You try to compete with them and see what happens...
Re: Ask HN: If Google is a monopoly, should we be doing anything about it?
#15As far as I understand, the legality of a monopoly depends on whether it takes anticompetitive actions. Microsoft wasn't put down just for being big -- it was put down for including Internet Explorer into operating system, thus using an unfair advantage to promote its monopoly.
And how do we know that Google isn't taking anti-competitive actions?
If they are they're certainly being discreet about it. Microsoft was obviously anti-competitive in the 90's. The Windows/IE bundling thing was only a small part of it.
All of their software was designed to lock you in. It could sometimes be difficult to use a Microsoft product without having to use others. It can be a hassle to buy a new PC without Windows, but you couldn't do it at all back then. After the OS/2 fiasco they screwed IBM on Windows 95 pricing. Other OEM's were getting it for a few bucks and IBM had to pay retail initially.
It does concern me when one company dominates a market the way Google does and I think we need to keep a very close eye on them, but I don't see anything anti-competitive about what they're doing yet. In fact, they typically go out of their way to be open to the point where some of their applications allow you to move your data to a competitor's application.
That said, Microsoft, just like Google now, built their monopoly with a better product. It wasn't until much later that they became slimy.
Re: Ask HN: If Google is a monopoly, should we be doing anything about it?
#16As far as I understand, the legality of a monopoly depends on whether it takes anticompetitive actions. Microsoft wasn't put down just for being big -- it was put down for including Internet Explorer into operating system, thus using an unfair advantage to promote its monopoly.
And how do we know that Google isn't taking anti-competitive actions?
Usually these cases start when a would-be competitor accuses the monopolist of taking anti-competitive actions. First step would be to review these accusations, if they exists.
Speculating whether they "might do something" without specifics seems fruitless.
The 1999 "Findings of Facts" in the US vs MS case should give a good idea of what is needed. It is quite readable, written in plain language, and totally ignored by the pundits who commented the case at the time.
A copy can be found here: http://www.ltg.ed.ac.uk/~richard/findfact.html
Re: Ask HN: If Google is a monopoly, should we be doing anything about it?
#17Read my lips:
Google is NOT a monopoly.
You can walk away anytime you want, they are not forcing you to anything or abusing you or their competitors in any way.
Those who want to stick the word monopoly in your mind associated to google are those who once were convicted monopolists.
Beware of FUD like this.
Is Facebook a monopoly?
Is Twitter a monopoly?
Is every company in the world which offers a great service and has a great and loyal user base a monopoly?
Answer: NO!
Wikipedia "monopoly" and you will find a better answer than what propaganda pundits want you to believe to further their agenda.
Re: Ask HN: If Google is a monopoly, should we be doing anything about it?
#18In my view they are definitely a monopoly (not convinced? try http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/01/what-an-antitrust-case-...).
The question is whether they are abusing the monopoly. Probably not at the moment.
However, as the original question is a hypothetical then perhaps we can extend it to "what if Google starting abusing their monopoly - what should we do?".
Re: Ask HN: If Google is a monopoly, should we be doing anything about it?
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
And how do we know that Google isn't taking anti-competitive actions?
If they are they're certainly being discreet about it. Microsoft was obviously anti-competitive in the 90's. The Windows/IE bundling thing was only a small part of it. All of their software was designed to lock you in. It could sometimes be difficult to use a Microsoft product without having to use others. It can be a hassle to buy a new PC without Windows, but you couldn't do it at all back then. After the OS/2 fias…
Speaking of moving my data, is there a way for me to migrate out of Gmail? I read an interview (Playboy interview with the Google founders - http://kottke.org/plus/misc/google-playboy.html) where Larry Page specifically said:
'For example, we just released Gmail, a free e-mail service. We said, “We will not hold your e-mail hostage.” We will make it possible for you to get your e-mail out of Gmail if you ever want to.'
But I haven't actually figured out how to do that yet. Does anyone know?
Re: Ask HN: If Google is a monopoly, should we be doing anything about it?
#20Is eBay?
eBay is losing its monopoly due to lameness.
Also, Froogle is a definite eBay competitor, and Google lists brand new products, too.
You used to be able to buy old hardware cheap off eBay, but their stupid fees have ruined buying cheap stuff.
Also older eBay stuff seems to break down quite quickly these days.