Digital BW, The Print

> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Roark"
> <paul.roark@...> wrote:
 
> > I think the relevant market is desktop pigment inkjet printers.  
> > Epson has 100% of this market.  There is no other printer 
> > that can handle the pure pigment inks we use.
> >

André wrote:

> 
> Would these new Canon printers come into direct competition with Epson
> in the pigmented ink printer market ?
> 
> http://www.dpreview.com/news/0602/06022406canonpro9000.asp
 
Short answer:

I sure hope so, but there are a lot of unknowns with them.  Are the inks
pure carbon?  Any dyes?  Are the pigment particles so small they'll fade
like dyes?  Can these printers pump the high viscosity inks needed to keep
the best pigments in suspension?  What are the prices of the printers?  Will
Canon also try to monopolize its after market ink sales?  What about the C86
and R220 entry level markets?  Etc.

Long answer:

I don't think societies can or do allow anti-competitive, monopolistic
practices based on the hope that some future competition will cure the
problems.  (Judge Bork, in his landmark book on the subject, expressed the
view that the antitrust laws that deal with these problems are justified
because they can speed the movement to competitive markets and reduce the
costs of getting there.)  

Competition in price and quality is great -- the best way to organize an
economy that we know of.  However, healthy competition and anarchy are not
the same.  We don't allow the large organizations to arbitrarily kill the
small ones.  Chicago in the 1930's is not the type of society we want.
Every game, sport, and society has rules.  Stopping "anti-competitive" and
"unfair" trade practices that damage competition and consumer welfare are
among those modern western societies have evolved.

Of course, the worst possible combination would be the U.S. government
assisting a large competitor to suppress competition.   But, it can happen,
especially if there is an asymmetry of information that distorts the
decision making process. 

That's why my focus is on the International Trade Commission and Epson's
petition, which is aimed at convincing that agency to stop importation and
sale of competing products.

The decision makers will make the best decision they can, but they need to
hear all sides of the issue.  Letters and other actions can avoid an issue
getting under the radar.  

So, what we can do is make enough noise to focus attention on a potential
problem that needs detailed analysis.  We can also provide information.  Our
system works best when those with an interest and knowledge express
themselves.


Paul
www.PaulRoark.com