Comment by maxerickson
2 days ago
You are making the mistake of asserting that the buyer exactly shares your values.
With Windows, I didn't assert that it was the value maximizing case, merely that it benefits both parties. Which it does, mostly likely to the advantage of the buyers.
By the same logic, an inmate in prison is benefiting from incarceration because they are receiving food and housing. Obviously, the costs of being imprisoned is greater than any "enrichment" from it, and this is exactly the case with Windows and almost all technology.
I would you my statement about relatively free markets addresses that.
Businesses that expand their licensing agreements with Microsoft aren't doing it because they are being coerced.
"Free" market coercion is probably the only reason companies like Microsoft are still in business.