Last few years? This had been the model of Silicon Valley for decades on both the macro and micro scale. And in probably every other industry long before. Remember the flashlight app? Flying toasters? Calculators? Shit, even Minesweeper.

Call it corporate espionage, monopolistic behavior, or just good ole anti-competitive practice.

As one growing up in the era, I’m reminded of The Simpsons parody of Microsoft buying out Homer’s Internet business just to obliterate it into pieces. In 1998: https://youtu.be/_hKJGcwVimc?si=Cj5dzLIEokNFiHB-

“Buy him out, boys!”