Why do so many high-priced acquisitions of entrepreneurial firms take place in network industries? We develop a theory of commercialization (entry or sale) in network industries showing that high equilibrium acquisition prices are driven by the incumbents' desire to prevent rivals from acquiring...

This paper describes how large, typically multi-technology corporations build up and exploit their technological capability by purchasing small, technology-based firms in order to acquire their technology. The frequency, possible causes and economic effects of this phenomenon are elaborated,...