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Originally Posted by darryl
@fjtorres. We tend to hold similar views and this is no exception. The last sentence of my relevant comment was about the unlikelihood of anti-trust intervention. This is basically because, as you say, Amazon actually benefits the consumer. It has been argued in these forums that the minority judgement in the Apple appeal represents the proper interpretation of US anti-trust law. This view would essentially dispense with the need for immediate consumer harm. In fact, it would even disregard immediate and serious consumer harm and even price fixing so long as it was to allow a new entrant to the market. Apparently more players in the market increases competition, even when the price of the entry of more players is the elimination of retail price competition. Some do hold that view and seem to genuinely believe that Amazon is vulnerable in relation to books. Others simply hate Amazon.
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As I've said in the past, there are two competing views on anti-trust law in the US, the Bork approach which looks at consumer harm and the per se approach, which says that certain actions are per se violations, regardless of how it effects consumers. Frankly, the real question is will a prosecutor file charges. The prosecution normally wins in the initial trial when it comes to anti-trust.
Amazon better hope that the Bork approach is the controlling approach since their market share with regards to ebooks makes it likely they would be guilty of a per se violation on any attempt to squeeze suppliers.
My basic point is more along the lines that given Bezos overt dislike for the current administration, Amazon is likely under increased scrutiny from the Justice Dept. My personal feelings is that if you don't like how Amazon does things, don't use them. If you don't like the terms for being an author in KU, then do your own marketing. As long as Amazon doesn't use it's market position to squeeze other ebook stores, then I don't have an issue with them.
I buy a lot of stuff from Amazon, including the vast majority of my ebooks. I have started buying more from Apple's ebook store, but that's more of an experiment than anything else. I don't see it as a binary position where you either hate them or defend them from all criticism as some do here. Amazon has strengths and weaknesses. I try to acknowledge both.