[SteveEisenberg]

Re the possible impact of regulations:

Here's a concrete example to think about that actually has to do with eBooks:

http://www.osiander.de/ebook/

OSIANDER.de - Bücher seit 1596

There are two plausible-to-me reasons why Osiander, reputedly the world's oldest bookstore, is still alive 419 years later, while Fictionwise only lasted twelve years.

One is Germany's regulations regarding book price competition. Another is that Barnes & Noble never purchased Osiander.