After reading the decision by the EU concerning Microsoft and its dominant market share of 95%, it makes one wonder how the world would be a different place had other technological marvels been granted such a high market share. Let me explain. In this day and age of ‘intellectual property rights,’ most of us would agree that new innovations should be afforded protection and others should not be allowed to steal their thunder. One wonders what would happen if this same logic were applied to everything that has ever been made.

Henry Ford didn’t invent the automobile, but did come up with one of the first practical uses of the assembly line. This innovative way of mass producing automobiles revolutionized the way cars were produced here in the US, and made it possible for Ford to market a car that most consumers could afford. I know this might be far fetched, but what if if no one else was allowed to use the assembly line to manufacture cars? What would the world be like today?

We would most likely be driving Fords and nothing else, since none of the other car companies could compete. Would we consider this fair? Or would we insist that the rules be changed? I think the answer would be quite obvious to most of us.

Is this too simple of a way to look at this? What do you think?

Comments welcome.

Tags: ford, cars, automobiles, assembly line, microsoft, eu