Allelopathy
Companies engage in allelopathy-like behavior when they create conditions that inhibit competitor growth while remaining immune themselves.
Black walnuts poison the soil for everyone but themselves.
Allelopathy is chemical niche construction where plants secrete compounds that inhibit competitor growth. Black walnut trees (Juglans nigra) produce juglone, a toxin that inhibits germination and growth of many plant species. This constructs a niche (juglone-rich soil under walnut canopy) where walnut seedlings (which tolerate juglone) have reduced competition. Allelopathy is environmental engineering that favors the constructor's offspring over competitors.
Business Application of Allelopathy
Companies engage in allelopathy-like behavior when they create conditions that inhibit competitor growth while remaining immune themselves. Regulatory capture, proprietary standards, and exclusive contracts can all function as business allelopathy - toxic to competitors, favorable to the constructor.