The monopoly isn't search, its advertising, which is evolving into a Google/Facebook split.
If someone came up with a better search engine, Google would just buy it or hire the principals before they did.
If someone came up with a better search engine, Google would just buy it or hire the principals before they did.
Not really. The people with the better search engine might prefer to be 'the next Google' instead, and if they're not public yet its easy to not be bought. Just say no (even the VC's might prefer this as it could be a bigger later payout). If it was that easy to just buy anyone you wanted, Google would've owned Facebook quite awhile ago.
Microsoft would not beat IBM for being 'the next IBM'
Tesla would not beat Major car industries for being 'the next-gen Toyota way'
and, Google, probably will be replaced by someone in a complete industry. My guess that might be something that comes from VR.