Clearly?
Yes, clearly. If Company X holds the exclusive right to publish ABC book, the price of ABC book will tend to be higher than if there were free competition in the production of ABC book. Would you be any less skeptical if I said “the price of a widget given a monopoly widget-producer will tend to be higher than if there were free competition in the production of widgets.” Economics 101 John James, you know this, so what is your objection? I take it you’re trying to make some point about IP in particular? Well, make it.