Ed Black and Brock Meeks on Google not being a monopoly [priv]

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

[Ed runs a Washington trade organization that is appealing the 
DOJ-Microsoft antitrust settlement as being insufficiently, ah, rigorous. 
See: http://www.ccianet.org/press/03/0505.php3  --Declan]

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To: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>
Subject: Re: [Politech] Google's possible IPO draw cries of "monopoly!" [priv]
From: "Ed J. Black" <EBlack () ccianet org>
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2003 15:02:40 -0500

We know what real monopolies look like and its not Google.

Having a competitive level playing field is very important and is a proper 
subject for public agencies -WHEN there is a monopoly AND WHEN it abuses 
its power AND  when there is competitive harm.

Large market share, especially when there are no substantial barriers to 
entry is not grounds for action.  Why some so misunderstood the Microsoft 
case - it wasn't about being big, or even being a multi-monopolist, but 
about breaking the law,  causing harm, and NOT competing on a level playing 
field.

Success and growth are not punished by our legal system.  That myth is 
perpetuated by those who want to distort reality to protect lawbreakers by 
trying to delegitimize the law.

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From: "Meeks, Brock (MSNBCi)" <Brock.Meeks () MSNBC COM>
To: "'Declan McCullagh'" <declan () well com>
Subject: RE: [Politech] Google's possible IPO draw cries of "monopoly!" [priv]
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2003 07:52:14 -0800

Of course this claim of "monopoly" is rubbish.  And in fact, there is 
nothing inherently wrong or illegal about a monopoly; it's only if a 
so-called "monopoly" uses its position to thwart competition and squash 
potential rivals that it begins to run afoul of the law.

Case in point: Microsoft.

Then we must look at whether the monopoly has any competition in its 
relevant market.  I can name a half-dozen search engines off the top of my 
head and a few that do a BETTER job than Google.

Google may the name recognition, but it's certainly not a monopoly.

Privacy concerns:  with such technologies one can never discount privacy 
concerns.  There are many fighting the good fight for privacy and that 
should continue.  I would argue that a company going public provides more 
opportunities for outside scrutiny than if the company were kept in private 
hands.

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