> Consumers regularly counter act companies. Brands are so valuable that companies fight to protect them.
There are many kinds of businesses that exploit faults in the public and market, yet don't even have any relationship with branding. Companies have better resources and access to more information about the areas they function in than the public does (whether as individuals or groups), and many businesses don't market to the public at all, even if they deal with the public. Debt collection firms, for example, have all of these features.
The public does have a mechanism to counteract the actions of companies, and that's representative government and regulation. It's obviously imperfect, but it is the mechanism the public has.
There are many kinds of businesses that exploit faults in the public and market, yet don't even have any relationship with branding. Companies have better resources and access to more information about the areas they function in than the public does (whether as individuals or groups), and many businesses don't market to the public at all, even if they deal with the public. Debt collection firms, for example, have all of these features.
The public does have a mechanism to counteract the actions of companies, and that's representative government and regulation. It's obviously imperfect, but it is the mechanism the public has.