Fountain 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 a number of other bottled water manufacturers in the

case of Xtrafresh.

a As a manufacturer in the bottled water industry, what type of a market

does Fountain Plus Inc. operate in before and after the patent

expired? Explain why.

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