Minidisc was licensed technology, companies like Sharp, Denon, Pioneer, JVC, Onkyo and Kenwood all made competitive minidisc players. The discs were also sold by many brands.

I don't think Sony's audio division was as restrictive and aggressive as their gaming division.

Of course, all corporations are shitty. But there are degrees of shitty.

You're allowed to swear here and MDs weren't proprietary.

UMDs were though.

yeah i still remember when sony lawyered lik-sang.com out of existence for having the temerity to sell sony games outside their intended regional markets.