[jrodthree24]

I have no idea how anti-trust laws in the united states are supposed to work. Like why is Disney allowed to buy every studio? Why is Amazon allowed to buy like anything? Facebook also being allowed to buy Instagram and WhatsApp is crazy.

[bsiemon]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Antitrust_Paradox

As long as Disney doesn't 'harm' consumers they are allowed to consolidate. Harm is poorly defined in this case.

[sitkack]

As long as you can't show direct consumer harm, and esp if the products are free, Anti-Trust law in the US isn't about reducing choice (EU) but in raising prices. So if you can't show a price hike, the mergers and monopolies are allowed.

I am firm believer in the EU model of anti-trust and this wouldn't have even be possible if they both agreed.

[basch]

Buying the rights to old movies is quite a bit different than buying patents or businesses.

In the movie case, nobody else can distribute the old movie. In the patent or business case youve prevented future business, competition, invention. Owning an old movie doesnt prevent somebody from making a new movie about something different.

Where do you draw the line on how many stories a company can own before they have "enough and cant buy or make more." If Disney can make new movies, how is it any different to buy an existing one?

[HappySweeney]

You can't really make Instagram these days. Well you can, but it won't have any users.

[lotsofpulp]

Is TikTok not an Instagram competitor?

[HappySweeney]

That's a good point I overlooked, though I always saw TikTok as a Twitter-without-text, or non-ephemeral Snapchat, your point stands regardless.

[judge2020]

This is because it's just a sale of intellectual property (or physical property) from one company to the other - the U.S. prides itself on the individual liberty to do so, and because corporations are legal persons they're also allowed to do that. That's why, if the government or someone else thinks a certain sale is anticompetitive, you have to make a case that they shouldn't be allowed to exercise that liberty.

[throw_m239339]

Monopolies are actually not illegal, only anti-competitive behaviour is. Beyond that, it's a matter of political doctrine. People in power are now extremely lenient when it comes to what constitute abusing a monopoly...

[Lammy]

Relevant book recommendation: https://surveillancevalley.com/