A new tech company, TechSolutions, has emerged, quickly gaining a monopoly on online payment systems by acquiring all major competitors. The government is considering using the Sherman Antitrust Act to intervene. How should the principles of this act apply in this situation?

The Sherman Act says that any agreement or conduct that keeps competition out of a market is illegal, and it also makes it illegal to acquire a monopoly by unfair means. In TechSolutions’ case, the company’s buying of every rival payment system would be judged on whether it was done to eliminate competition rather than for legitimate business reasons. If the acquisitions were aimed at preventing other firms from entering or operating in the market, that would be a violation of the Act’s anti‑monopolization clause. Courts would look at the company's market power, the intent behind the purchases, and any resulting harm to consumers, such as higher fees or less choice. If the analysis shows the company used its dominance to foreclose competition, the government can use the Sherman Act to break up or regulate the firm.