Or consider IBM’s monopoly on mainframe computing, which was challenged by private and public antitrust suits in the 1960s and ’70s.
The suit also weakened IBM at the very time that personal computers were emerging, benefiting tiny upstarts like Apple and Microsoft.
Google began as a small start-up with a great product, but it was also a beneficiary of federal government intervention.
Fortunately for Google, Microsoft had just been put through the wringer by the Justice Department, whose antitrust lawsuit nearly led to a breakup of the company.
But as a giant, entrenched company, Google has the disadvantage of needing to protect its existing revenue streams and keep its investors, customers and advertisers happy.
Persons:
Bing, Bard
Organizations:
Control Data Corporation, IBM, Apple, Microsoft, Google, MSN, Justice Department, Samsung
Locations:
Washington