[toyg]

> However, it creates an incentive where the general public has an incentive to see the product fail

That's not really the problem. The problem is that it lowers the company value: why should I, potential acquirer, shell out $$$ to get your IP, when I can just sit down and wait for it to come down the river?

[concordDance]

Most of the value of a company is in the people, structure and brand.

And there's no guarantee the other acquirers will cooperate. "Why should I wait for the company to collapse and open source it's stuff forcing me to compete with other acquirers when I can buy them now and get a monopoly?"

[actionablefiber]

Presumably if the technology is good, there is some competitive advantage in retaining sole control over it, or licensing it out.

[abirch]

This seems to make the company more valuable toward the end of life. If you don't buy out your competitor, your customers will have an Open Source alternative.