[pm90]

Of course established companies do not like competition, it is the startups that do. If we didn't have free markets, then MS would not have risen up to replace IBM (for example; maybe not the best example). What we hope is that MS is better at doing what IBM used to do.

[TeMPOraL]

Yes, but as the (hypothetical) MS is fighting against IBM, the IBM is free to employ every trick in their book, including shoving things like TPP down our throats, to get rid of the rising competitor. No rule of the market says that they should just give up and die, or that they should just compete on merits, ignoring the influence that comes with money and established position.

[vezzy-fnord]

If we didn't have free markets, then MS would not have risen up to replace IBM

Considering the United States was (and remains) a mixed market economy at the time, your statement is incorrect.

[lkjhgfd]

A mixed market means some markets are free, some unfree - right?

[reagency]

MS success started with a very generous legal contract, backed by copyright fee regulation protections, then became the anti-competiitve progress-blockimg behemoth they replaced.