This might not have happened if Mullenweg hadn’t sued his competitor, then went off the deep end and hurt everyone.
Another interpretation would be a common cause for both this and the litigation, i.e. pressure to improve financials.
That's an unbelievably terrible course of action. If you have financial issues, don't try to get out of it by litigation. Only litigate if you absolutely have to, and you have been wronged. Don't do it because you are trying to improve your bottom line.