Information Empires and Monopolies

This edited eleven minute video from the RSA explores the rise of information monopolies - from the telephone to films and now the internet. Leading technological historian Timothy Wu exposes the battle for the soul of the internet. he has some pertinent things to say about how the preferences of consumers (a growing desire and willingness to pay for higher quality, filtering, reliability, brand) might actually reinforce the natural tendencies of industries that start out open, flourishing and diversified to consolidate into a controlling monopoly or an oligopoly.

Will Google and Apple come to dominate to a much greater degree? For Wu one of the signs to look out for with these types of companies is whether the balance tips between innovation and defensive behaviour.