Competition Is Not Good
Linked by Kroc on Thu 30th Aug 2007 13:03 UTC
Editorial I hear often that when something new appears that "competition is good". The primary reasons competition is seen as good, are: it drives down prices; it gives consumers more choice; it pushes technology forward, quicker. Competition is not good because: competition is why consumers have to choose between HD-DVD and BluRay; competition is why DRM exists; and more. In this article, each of the supposed benefits of competition will be looked at in more detail.
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A rather odd opinion the author has
by Laurence on Thu 30th Aug 2007 13:27 UTC
Laurence
Member since:
2007-03-26

"The primary reasons competition is seen as good, are: [snip] it gives consumers more choice; [snip] Competition is not good because: competition is why consumers have to choose between HD-DVD and BluRay; competition is why DRM exists; and more."


What an odd argument to make. One minute the author is saying consumer choice is good, then the next moment he is implying that choice is bad.

More to the point - Sure DRM exists through capitalism paranoia, not through competition. There's plenty of examples of where competition doesn't have to be directly related to commercialisation (FOSS for example). Besides, and to quote the author, consumers have the choice to choose avoid DRM by using systems that don't endorse such shackles.

[edit - missed out quotes]

Edited 2007-08-30 13:30

Reply Score: 10

Kroc Member since:
2005-11-10

DRM is an anti-competitive measure created by the presence of competition. If companies worked together with no intention of trying to screw the other over, then DRM would not so much as pass anybody's mind.

I wasn't saying one thing; then another. The first line was simply paraphrasing what other's say that competition does, and then me providing alternative views on those items.

Reply Parent Score: 2

JonathanBThompson Member since:
2006-05-26

DRM is only to prevent competition between unpurchased (ie pirated) copies and purchased copies: it doesn't itself do a darn thing for competition between other producers, but only (at least in theory) protects the producers of something that uses DRM from being screwed by pirated copies of their works.

Where you came up with the concept that DRM was brought about by competition appears to be a red herring at best.

Reply Parent Score: 3