Obviously a startup doesn't want to be copied this way, but if the company making the clones is actually good at getting users internationally, could this end up being a net win for the original company? The clone gets popular in other countries, then gets bought by the original who gets immediate presence in other markets in return. Seems like in at least some circumstances it could work out. Maybe?
That doesn't make it a net win. The fact that, given that the clone exists, they prefer buying it to not buying it doesn't mean they prefer the clone existing to it not existing.
Would you argue that a company should ever consider the fact that other companies might prefer them not to exist when they're thinking about what market to target and how to target it, though?
I'm fine with being negative on the approach of literally stealing the details of all that the incumbent does, but as a rule, I don't think that it's really a problem if an acquirer wishes the acquiree didn't exist at all, isn't that the reason for a large number of acquisitions?
But in a viable market, there will be competition.
Anyway, I'm talking about the transaction itself, which they consider a net win, otherwise they wouldn't participate.
The only time a party participates in a transaction that they don't consider a net win is when they're forced to participate (i.e. they're being robbed or paying taxes).
