Isn't price fixing, and monopoly a crime?

Do they justify stealing in return?

Price fixing is a crime. But again that's an old argument - the RIAA got slammed almost 9 years ago for this, fined hard and forced to lower CD prices. Their own PR and marketing people are really their own worst enemy. Music pricing is now being watched carefully. That said, no one is forcing you to buy or listen to music.

Monopolies are not illegal. They are all over the place - most often seen in utility and communications companies. There is typically only one electricity, cable, or gas company in a particular area. That's a monopoly, and legal. It is still wrong to steal power, cable or gas.

It is against the law, however, to push out competition for the purpose of becoming a monopoly. The recording industry is not a monopoly and with more and more Indies joining the market, they never will be.