[roganartu]

Not everything is zero sum. The important element is not whether or not it is mutually beneficial to the companies, but whether it is detrimental to some other party.

Price fixing, wage suppression, monopolizing etc are all detrimental to the customer, employees, or other businesses, but it is possible to collaborate or “cease competition” in certain areas for mutual benefit in ways that are not detrimental (and in fact, are also beneficial) to others.