Comments on: Europe interferes in Apple’s business again http://www.john-wright.net/2007/04/04/europe-interferes-in-apples-business-again/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=europe-interferes-in-apples-business-again Not Facebook Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:58:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: S Quinney http://www.john-wright.net/2007/04/04/europe-interferes-in-apples-business-again/comment-page-1/#comment-839 S Quinney Fri, 06 Apr 2007 16:25:00 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2007/04/04/europe-interferes-in-apples-business-again/#comment-839 I can't understand why anyone would defend trying to penalize our most successful groups of people while rewarding our least productive with welfare of all kinds. Does that make a lick of sense? I can’t understand why anyone would defend trying to penalize our most successful groups of people while rewarding our least productive with welfare of all kinds. Does that make a lick of sense?

]]> By: John Wright http://www.john-wright.net/2007/04/04/europe-interferes-in-apples-business-again/comment-page-1/#comment-838 John Wright Thu, 05 Apr 2007 15:16:00 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2007/04/04/europe-interferes-in-apples-business-again/#comment-838 The reason Apple have 80 percent of the music download market is because they did 80 percent of the work in establishing agreements with the music companies that permitted legal downloads. People liked iTunes, people bought music from iTunes and, presto, iTunes gets to be the most popular service.<br/><br/>Now. Either the European Union is stupid and doesn't know this... (not likely) ...or it deliberately has a problem with success in a belief that too much success warrants the interference and penalising measures of government. If you two think that's the legitimate role of government, I can't help you any further. The reason Apple have 80 percent of the music download market is because they did 80 percent of the work in establishing agreements with the music companies that permitted legal downloads. People liked iTunes, people bought music from iTunes and, presto, iTunes gets to be the most popular service.

Now. Either the European Union is stupid and doesn’t know this… (not likely) …or it deliberately has a problem with success in a belief that too much success warrants the interference and penalising measures of government. If you two think that’s the legitimate role of government, I can’t help you any further.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.john-wright.net/2007/04/04/europe-interferes-in-apples-business-again/comment-page-1/#comment-837 Anonymous Thu, 05 Apr 2007 14:44:00 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2007/04/04/europe-interferes-in-apples-business-again/#comment-837 I think Greg is defending the use of the word monopoly to describe Apple's position because as you say it is 80% of music downloads. THe EU investigation is to find out why all of these other companies have only 20% of the market. I think Greg is defending the use of the word monopoly to describe Apple’s position because as you say it is 80% of music downloads. THe EU investigation is to find out why all of these other companies have only 20% of the market.

]]> By: John Wright http://www.john-wright.net/2007/04/04/europe-interferes-in-apples-business-again/comment-page-1/#comment-836 John Wright Wed, 04 Apr 2007 23:30:00 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2007/04/04/europe-interferes-in-apples-business-again/#comment-836 Greg- Enron was a blatant case of accounting fraud. Fraud is, rightly, a crime. In the case above, Apple and the music companies have created innovative ways to digitise and sell music via the internet for the first time, building many of the protocols, formats and systems necessary for such an undertaking from scratch and shouldering painstaking negotiations to make it happen. Their only crime was that their enterprise was a commercial success... it's Europe that's made success a crime.<br/><br/>And your comment about a monopoly is incredibly dumb Greg, though it appears there are plenty of Europeans willing to agree with you. The only thing I'll say in response is that any company that works as hard as Apple did with respect to digital music distribution will have a shot at being as successful as them. And there are several that have already piggybacked off the original Apple deal to create their own with similar pricing and a similar function; there isn't any reason why they can't compete with Apple. To call iTunes a monopoly is a fucking lie, Greg. A monopoly is a situation in which there is only one provider of a product or service: in this case there's one that 80 percent of consumers are using, but plenty of other options. Again, Apple simply has the most successful product. That is <strong>NOT</strong> a monopoly; it's a successful business.<br/><br/>When people learn to stop criminalising, penalising and demonising success, and instead start to permit, emulate and admire it.... things will be better for all of us. Greg- Enron was a blatant case of accounting fraud. Fraud is, rightly, a crime. In the case above, Apple and the music companies have created innovative ways to digitise and sell music via the internet for the first time, building many of the protocols, formats and systems necessary for such an undertaking from scratch and shouldering painstaking negotiations to make it happen. Their only crime was that their enterprise was a commercial success… it’s Europe that’s made success a crime.

And your comment about a monopoly is incredibly dumb Greg, though it appears there are plenty of Europeans willing to agree with you. The only thing I’ll say in response is that any company that works as hard as Apple did with respect to digital music distribution will have a shot at being as successful as them. And there are several that have already piggybacked off the original Apple deal to create their own with similar pricing and a similar function; there isn’t any reason why they can’t compete with Apple. To call iTunes a monopoly is a fucking lie, Greg. A monopoly is a situation in which there is only one provider of a product or service: in this case there’s one that 80 percent of consumers are using, but plenty of other options. Again, Apple simply has the most successful product. That is NOT a monopoly; it’s a successful business.

When people learn to stop criminalising, penalising and demonising success, and instead start to permit, emulate and admire it…. things will be better for all of us.

]]> By: Greg, Sacramento http://www.john-wright.net/2007/04/04/europe-interferes-in-apples-business-again/comment-page-1/#comment-835 Greg, Sacramento Wed, 04 Apr 2007 22:16:00 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2007/04/04/europe-interferes-in-apples-business-again/#comment-835 Of course the state should be able to audit businesses, would you have allowed Enron to continue unabated? Corporations should not be allowed to run crazy and do whatever they want, they need to be socially responsible. In this case Apple and the music companies have a complete monopoly allowing nobody else to even attempt to enter the market. I thought you were pro-consumer? Of course the state should be able to audit businesses, would you have allowed Enron to continue unabated? Corporations should not be allowed to run crazy and do whatever they want, they need to be socially responsible. In this case Apple and the music companies have a complete monopoly allowing nobody else to even attempt to enter the market. I thought you were pro-consumer?

]]> By: John Wright http://www.john-wright.net/2007/04/04/europe-interferes-in-apples-business-again/comment-page-1/#comment-834 John Wright Wed, 04 Apr 2007 20:17:00 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2007/04/04/europe-interferes-in-apples-business-again/#comment-834 Greg- Your comment is ludicrous. Do large corporations have less rights than smaller ones? Or is all business ultimately auditable by the state, no matter the reason?<br/><br/>Apple has simply been successful in its business model; thus the reason for the EU probe. It is possible to be <strong>too</strong> successful in Europe. Success is not something the EU values in business. Let me ask you a question, Greg. If you created something spectacular from the ground up, would you or would you not be incensed at the suggestion that it was simply too good to be permitted by your government? Greg- Your comment is ludicrous. Do large corporations have less rights than smaller ones? Or is all business ultimately auditable by the state, no matter the reason?

Apple has simply been successful in its business model; thus the reason for the EU probe. It is possible to be too successful in Europe. Success is not something the EU values in business. Let me ask you a question, Greg. If you created something spectacular from the ground up, would you or would you not be incensed at the suggestion that it was simply too good to be permitted by your government?

]]> By: Greg, Sacramento http://www.john-wright.net/2007/04/04/europe-interferes-in-apples-business-again/comment-page-1/#comment-833 Greg, Sacramento Wed, 04 Apr 2007 19:54:00 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2007/04/04/europe-interferes-in-apples-business-again/#comment-833 What are you objecting to? Apple is a huge corporation that gets its way wherever it goes. Are you telling me that the EU curbing some of this anti-competitive streak is wrong? Come on John. What are you objecting to? Apple is a huge corporation that gets its way wherever it goes. Are you telling me that the EU curbing some of this anti-competitive streak is wrong? Come on John.

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