The Google policy blog has this excellent post explaining the “blocking premium” and “incumbent discount” concepts in bidding. I’ve sprinkled pieces of this in variuous posts, but this really lays it out nicely in one place.
Stay tuned . . .
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Harold’s Tweets
Load More...Today, the @FTC released a report on the Right to Repair.
The report reinforces growing concerns that many companies are scamming the public and contributing to environmental waste by making it tougher to repair electronics and equipment. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/05/ftc-report-congress-examines-anti-competitive-repair-restrictionsFarmers have raised concerns for years about @JohnDeere blocking owners from seeking repairs by the technician of their choice.
Even defense experts worry that military contractors bar the Pentagon from repairing publicly procured equipment on its own. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/20/opinion/military-right-to-repair.htmlTo attack this problem, the @FTC must step up its enforcement of laws that are already on the books.
I also expect that the FTC's #RightToRepair report will advance efforts to enact laws that rein in anticompetitive chokeholds in repair markets. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-06/right-to-repair-movement-gains-momentum-as-states-consider-billsPence is right we should leverage local ISPs serving their local communities. But then sadly veers into idea that we should feed these local systems crumbs.
