Monopoly vs. Monopoly
Billionaires love to fight. Just look at the old battles between Larry Ellison and Bill Gates. Big companies also love to fight, and just like their leaders, sometimes it just makes them look ridiculous.
The latest case in point is Microsoft trying to block Google's acquisition of ITA Software. ITA lets flyers search for flights, and drives most online travel reservation sites. The argument of Microsoft and other members of the FairSearch.org coalition is this will let Google dominate online travel -- even more than it dominates search. And as with any monopoly, prices tend to go up as the monopolists exert near total control.
I'm not a fan of monopolies, but it does seem odd that the company that dominates operating systems and productivity apps is complaining about another potential monopoly.
What say you? Is too much power concentrated in too few companies, or does the free market let the very best rise to top? Opine away at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 12/17/2010 at 1:18 PM