Sorry, your examples do not compute. Using your "Ford" analogy, try this:
Suppose Ford initially started out building the chassis. Over time, it was able to convince the engine makers, tire manufacturers, etc. that, if they decided to standardize on this one chassis (Ford), they could all compete and the public could decide which components to use in the car. The car industry really took off, and after a few years the only real chassis in town was the Ford chassis This success was due in part to the fact that the Ford chassis was sold to assemblers of cars at really low prices to drive out of business any other chassis maker. In addition, Ford had a neat contractual provision: you can use any other chassis, but we will charge you for ours even if you sell the other one. So, the Ford chassis became the standard.
But then Ford decided it wanted to get into the engine and tire making business. Ford started working on a new engine and tire knowing that it would soon be changing the specs on its chassis. It let the other makers know but,"forgot" to tell them of all the emerging changes in the specs while "accidently" keeping its own R&D people in the loop.
When the new chassis came out, it turned out that only the Ford engine and tires really worked properly, so the new Ford vehicle quickly gained market share.(Some say that the new chassis was designed such that only the Ford engine and tires would ever work properly). Then Ford had a brainwave; why not require the assemblers to use only the Ford parts -- if they didn't, then Ford would no longer ship the chassis to this assembler (which would drive the assembler out of business, but what the hell). Gradually, the engine makers and tire manufacturers went out of business. Occasionally, an entrepreneur would find a better way of building tires, or a new engine, and Ford would either drive them out of business, buy them out, or announce they would be building the same product (often after stealing the ideas of these upstart newcomers)
Soon Ford was building 80% of all the cars in America. Some said this was good for consumers since they now had complete standardization. Moreover, the next step would be to gain control of gas stations and anything remotely connected with cars. After getting such control, Ford could charge what it wanted because, well, there was no more competition.
Of course, there was always a group of dedicated Ford stockholders who would yell "communism" at the first sign of any attempt to break up this all powerful enterprise. But, in the end, Ford WAS broken up. The stockholders did very well. And everyone at last had a chance to buy a car in any color they wanted. |
