Re: Java editor
On Fri, 22 Jun 2007 19:40:07 +0000, Twisted wrote:
Can anyone else copy and sell "IntelliJ", legally? No? Then they have a
monopoly -- a state-enforced one at that -- on "IntelliJ".
From the OED (emphasis added):
monopoly (n.)
I. Simple uses.
1. a. The exclusive possession or control of the trade in a
commodity, product [1], or service; *the condition of having no
competitor in one's trade or business*. Also: an instance of this.
In Eng. Law: a situation in which one supplier or producer controls
more than a specified fraction of the market.
b. As a mass noun: [trimmed]
c. Monopolies Commission, [trimmed]
2. An exclusive privilege conferred by a monarch, state, etc., of
selling a particular commodity or of trading with a particular region.
3. In extended use (often with conscious metaphor). [trimmed]
4. The commodity, trade, etc., in which a monopoly is held, granted,
or operated. Also in extended use.
5. A company that has, operates, or claims a monopoly.
6. In form Monopoly. [trimmed]
IntelliJ has several competitors in its business (Java IDEs): NetBeans
and Eclipse, for starters. Therefore, by definition, it is not a monopoly
under any definition.
[1] I should mention that "product" here is used as a noun in the same
vein as "output" or "commodity", being used as a general descriptor as in
"The product of the mills..."