The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Weyerhaeuser in a major antitrust dispute, a verdict that makes it harder for small companies to compete against global powerhouse firms.

The case turned on the difference between ruthless competiton and unfair business practices in the Northwest lumber market. The court essentially said that a small Washington mill couldn’t prove that Weyerhaeuser put them out of business unfairly by bidding up the price of logs.

The case took second billing Tuesday to another involving a massive ruling against Big Tobacco. But there’s hardly a bigger issue for Cascadia and the future of the natural resources industry in the Northwest. The case seems similar to the prosecution of Microsoft during the 1990s and the effects may be equally widespread.

Here’s a critique of the court’s verdict.