immortalfrieza said:
Randomosity said:
So if I write a Comic Book and decide to self publish it on my own website for my own profit, by your words I have a monopoly and should be forced to allow DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, and Archie to also publish and sell my works. Likewise, I should be allowed to produce and sell Spiderman comics because Marvel can't have a monopoly on Spiderman after all. While we're at it, Coke should go ahead and send me the formula to their secret recipe, because I plan to open my own soda brand and I would like to sell Coke with it. Can't let them have a monopoly on coke. Need to also get into contact with HBO. I think Game of Thrones would fit in perfectly on the TV network I run from my basement.
Whenever the production and distribution of any product is under the sole control of ONE company it is a monopoly, regardless of who, why, or how significant the product is. Monopolies are all over the place, using technicalities to weasel their way out of being called that but people in general don't notice or care about them because they've always been that way, that doesn't mean they aren't bad or aren't monopolies. A lack of competition leads to exploitation, and that's exactly what exclusives are, companies using the fact that they have sole control over those video games to force their customers to get it from them and the equipment required to run it no matter how much they get screwed over to do it.
The production and distribution of almost any consumer product is under the control of a sole company. This is not a monopoly, this is capitalism. Disney has complete control over all production and distribution of Disney brands. Coke, Remington, Apple, Blizzard, Nike, Armani, Rolex, etc. This is the reason Copyright and Trademark law exists. If anyone can produce and distribute any product, then effectively no one owns any brands. No one can defend their brands, and ultimately no one can actually make money off of the properties and ideas they make.
This is worse for the little guy. Anything he could possibly create could be made faster and cheaper by bigger companies. If I make and release an indie game on my own dime, I should own the rights to it, and the right to sell it how and where I choose. If I don't have that right, Valve could just as easily slap it on Steam and claim they have distribution rights and make money off of my work and idea without my concent.
Save for basic commodities like milk, oil, etc, every item is exclusive on some level. It all needs to be created or manufactured by someone and distributed by someone, and there is someone at the beginning of the line who decides who can distribute and produce their idea. Shoe stores have to buy their stock directly from Nike, or Sketchers, or Vans. Even if you can find the same product at Walmart, Target, or Gamestop, they all get it from the same source. EA is the only one allowed to produce and distribute their games.
The market works by brands competing. If you suddenly make it to where you can simply steal the competing brands, you're more likely to reduce competition and make it far worse on the end consumer.
