4. Company Plus, Inc. a manufacturer of bottled water, has enjoyed rapid growth in sales of one of its flavored water products, Xtrafresh, for which it has a patent, which has just expired. It now faces fierce competition from many other existing bottled water manufacturers in the case of Xtrafresh.

a. As a manufacturer competing in the bottled water market, what type of a market does Company Plus Inc. operate in before and after the patent expired? Explain why.

b. What will happen to Company Plus Inc. now that the patent has expired?