|
What the FTC cares about is a company exercising monopoly power in a market by eliminating competition. Microsoft was accused of doing this by "bundling" its operating system, Windows, with its browser, Internet Explorer. This forced consumers that wanted the OS to use the Microsoft browser. It was unfair for other browser makers because Windows came with a browser.
In this case, while there are numerous brands under one parent, there are many other choices in the market not under the parent. Shimano, Daiwa, St.CRoix, etc... There is nothing here that prevents someone else from competing in the market...
Yes it may lead to consolidation among some of their brands.
I think the Microsoft comparison would only fly here if one rod maker owned 95% of the market and only made their rods to fit their own reels. Clearly not the case.
|