@BobWarfield
Lets make a clear distinction between open platforms and open markets. There is ample precedent that open platforms are in fact, capable of closing markets. Microsoft, the chief champion of open architecture is a actual monopolist on 2 continents. How do you resolve this paradox relative to your views?
Regardless how counterintuitive it is to you , there needs to be some understanding that a closed platform, is in no way a defacto antitrust issue. Closed platforms require open markets to do business. They depend on them. It is a complete anathema for them to subvert the marketplace. Why? Very simply, because they don't bring their own tent.
This will blow the minds of the PC faithful, but it is in fact the open platform that is most capable of shutting down an open market. Broad licensing need not be a problem in itself, but it clearly provides tremendous leverage over a broad, false, and essentially feudal psudo market that is big enough to "cover" the real marketplace. if the leverage is used, it is monopoly maintenance, and only this is the real illegal monopoly. Apple having some market share and being popular comes no where near this criteria.
Yes Apple is closed and managed system. What they are not, is the least bit anticompetitive. Adobe wants to play in Apple's sandbox. It won't happen. it is Apple's prerogative. But Apple in no way prevents Adobe from making it's own sandbox.
Microsoft's platform IS NOT a marketplace, neither is Apple's platform, or the app store, or anything else that might be broad and popular. They are tech platforms. Period. A market does not have a logo, or limited shareholders, or a corporate agenda. The sooner that everyone understands these fundamental distinctions, the better.
The arc of your views inevitably deteriorates into the "too sexy" argument. Apple is just too sexy for the gullible consumer to resist. They are being duped into purchasing something outside their best interests. And who will rescue these pleebs? You? The DOJ?
How about no on all counts. At no point will any lawyer who has any self respect, stand up in front of a court and say the open market, the very engine that drives our economy, has been made so weak by a single company that it has been subverted by "sexyness". Not through coercion or undue leverage, and not by erecting barriers to competition mind you?????? but by being too sexy! Good luck finding particular lawyer.
There is a monopoly problem in tech. It is the lingering Microsoft monopoly that has "encouraged" companies to be "less technical" and allow MS to do that lifting for them. If there is a lack of real competition. Look here first.
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