posted on February 10, 2001 05:47:42 AM
Ten is correct Darmascota. In fact, for a comparison, a federal judge determined that Microsoft holds a monopoly in computer operating systems based on the premise that "Microsoft enjoys so much power in the market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems that if it wished to exercise this power solely in terms of price, it could charge a price for Windows substantially above that which could be charged in a competitive market."
I think it was Motley Fools on-line report that identified eBay's market share in the consumer-to-consumer auction space at 85 percent, others say it is close to 89 percent. These are figures that set off bells in an antitrust attorney's mind. And in fact have. The DOJ, as well as the Federal Trade Commission, both have on-going investigations into Ebay's practices in the Market.
Edited to add, that each complaint that the Federal Trade Commission receives regarding Ebay is being looked at and paid attention to. I have heard many say that Ebay is too big for most of us to fight. The legal fees would be staggering. WE CAN FIGHT EBAY. Through the FTC. Their attorneys protect consumers and fair trade.
~~Anais~~
[ edited by anais on Feb 10, 2001 06:10 AM ]
posted on February 10, 2001 06:01:20 AM
I think I have said this before up ^^^^there somewhere, that my premise that Ebay is a monopoly is just a small part of the compaint I am filing with the Federal Trade Commission. I am more concerned with how they have affect fair trade within the ranks of their sellers. And the grievances continue to pile up.
A large percentage of sellers on ebay are businesses. Ebay's ever-changing and restrictive rules are hindering our ability to make a decent living. There are some of you that say go somewhere else. There is no where else for us to go because Ebay is Monopoly.
posted on February 10, 2001 07:05:57 AM
horizonod,
All my email to you is coming back today. I have tried to send you email from 3 different email addys and I have double and triple checked your email address and it still comes back. I will try later.
posted on February 10, 2001 09:59:39 AM
I don't believe the ebay situation is the same as Microsoft's. MS involved issues of technology and actual actions taken directly against competitors. The ebay "monopoly" is actually closer to the case of Walmart's censorship of music, which they are able to do only becuase of their power in the consumer marketplace.
But ok. For the sake of argument, let's assume that ebay is a monopoly.
What should the remedy be?
- Government regulation of on-line auction fees and regulations?
- Divide ebay into separate components (as has been suggested for Microsoft?
- Do like the phone divestiture, and assign users to different auction venues so business is fairly apportioned?
posted on February 10, 2001 10:16:06 AM
Damariscotta-
Again, you have a few things confused.
#1. eBay fits most legal definitions of a monopoly.
#2. A monopoly in and of itself is NOT illegal, so unless it can be shown by the Justice Department that the monopoly itself is violating the laws relating to them, NOTHING need be done.
That's why nothing was done against ATT&T for many years. It's very simple. There are a separate set of Legislative Codes that apply to monopolies that don't apply to other businesses, and the reason for this is that it supposedly protects the public. When and if the Justice Dept. contends that a purported monopoly has in fact has violated the law, the case may be argued (like Microsoft's), and if the Corporation should lose, and also lose on the inevitable appeals, it will probably be settled by consent decree, which means that the accused Corporation agrees to implement negotiated changes to their activity in exchange for the Government not bringing criminal charges agaisnt them.
