Chokepoint Capitalism

Creative labor markets, from book publishing to music streaming and news, are increasingly dominated by a handful of powerful corporations. These entities, often referred to as Big Tech and Big Content, establish what authors Rebecca Giblin and Cory Doctorow term "chokepoints," creating monopolies or monopsonies that allow them to extract disproportionate value from creators and consumers alike. The book details how these companies systematically lock in users and suppliers, stifle competition, and force creative workers to accept unfairly low compensation, leading to a system where corporate profits soar while artists struggle.

Chokepoint Capitalism dissects the mechanisms behind this economic imbalance, illustrating with examples across various industries how powerful corporations construct anti-competitive systems. It then provides a blueprint for reclaiming power and profit for creators. The book offers a range of actionable strategies, including calls for transparency rights, collective action, and radical interoperability, designed to dismantle these chokepoints and foster a more equitable creative economy.