Belknap became lucrative monopolies and considered profitable investments during the 1870s.

Nielsen has enjoyed a virtual and highly lucrative monopoly in measuring national television audiences.

The personal computer industry and Wall Street are waking up to the fact that Intel has one of the most lucrative monopolies in America.

Some military officers are reported to be concerned about unchecked patronage as the President's family and friends build up lucrative monopolies by interfering in many areas of the economy.

That deal, subject to federal and state approval, would have preserved the companies' lucrative monopoly for five more years and kept Plavix prices high.

Microsoft's high margins are no mystery, and the company's $31 billion cash hoard proves how lucrative a monopoly can be.

He and his associates skimmed millions of dollars from lucrative monopolies, such as the sale of cigarettes and gasoline, and vast black market deals.

The opticians' association warns that denying its members this lucrative monopoly would hamper the early diagnosis of more serious eye problems.

In recent years, Airbus has been at pains to attack Boeing's lucrative monopoly as the sole manufacturer of large-capacity aircraft like the 747.

LEAD: One of the most lucrative monopolies in industry is about to come under attack.