Re: ``Nothing like a monopoly to get investors to cheer you on''

[Mitch Stone <mstone@vc.net>]

--- From a message sent by Eric M. Bennett on 11/9/98 11:16 PM ---

>In terms of its effect on the ability of other companies to make money at
>their current rates, I agree.
>
>But in other ways it is different: if a traditional monopolist uses this
>tactic, the intention is to get a monopoly by dumping and then raise
>prices.  Then the market suffers.  The monopolist dumps product now to be
>able to gain later.
>
>But Linux drives the price down and *keeps* it there.  This is very
>different from how a private company would generally behave in this
>situation.

Exactly. To use the word "predatory" in this context suggests intent. 
Brett, I don't think you can rely on your interpretation of RMS rhetoric 
to support a charge of predation. The same forces that create a market 
for free software are also its main limitation. You've said so yourself 
-- programmers like to eat.

Mitch Stone
mstone@vc.net