Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Kosovo -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: MNI who wrote (13927)	8/5/1999 5:33:00 AM
From: Neocon	Respond to of 17770

I hesitated to say "in all cases" because there is a possibility of a monopoly in something so crucial that it would engender extraordinary market power. However, the state always has the means to despoil an owner of his property, whether under color of law, or through espionage, or through direct coercion. In fact, as you point out, MS would be in hot water if its intellectual property rights were not maintained by the state, and is therefore, in the end, highly subject to extortion....I suspect that you are correct about MS, which is a reason for it to diversify interests. Paradoxically, a lot that can be portrayed as monopolistic behavior in the governments case (such as buying out promising startups and moving their people to Washington) may be simply a wise business strategy in a mature market, and a hedge against falling behind when the next big thing comes along....