Standards as barriers.
Types of Standards:
w
Open versus closed.
n
Some “semi-open.”
n
Example: Windows
w
Proprietary versus non-
proprietary.
n
Privately proprietary
(IBM 360).
n
“Collectively” owned
(fax standards).
n
Unowned (stereo
systems, Linux?)
Economics of networks predicts a single
dominant standard, not necessarily a
single monopoly owner.