From http://goo.gl/VMvAd1

Recently, a fellow Comm 101 student, Michael Wong wrote a blog about how Pirate Joe’s business model is unethical because they are simply “stealing” Trader Joe’s products and selling them in Canada. You can check out his blog here!

In the entrepreneurship class, we learned that companies can have “vitamin” or “pain-killer” products/services. In Pirate Joe’s perspective, they are filling the need of Trader Joe’s products in Canada, so they could be considered a pain-killer.

Thus, this raises an interesting question: Can companies harm other companies to better suit the needs of society? Let’s look at the case between Netflix and Blockbuster. Netflix created a media-streaming platform that better met the needs of customers (more convenient, expanded choices, less expensive) in terms of entertainment. By doing this, they essentially eliminated Blockbuster from the entertainment market because borrowing DVDs became futile and inconvenient. Was this unethical for Netflix to do? I’d say no, because business is about serving society; if a company offers better products/services than an existing firm, it’s not unethical, it’s simply competition. I realize this is a bit different from Trader Joe’s situation, but still proves the idea that it is not unethical to risk another country to better serve society.

With this utilitarian framework mind, I believe companies can put other companies at risk, if they serve a greater benefit for society.