Counter point (thought not arguing against what the actual article content contained, which "was we tried that idea years ago, but failed").

I've been contacted by investors before to look at business plans/technology. They didn't like the founders/team, or thought the idea was really good, but missing a couple things, or they had a different direction they'd run it in. So idea theft does happen. Those with money, power and contacts with the ability to execute DO take ideas and run with them on their own.

The investors were inspired by the startup/founder idea....and then they go execute without original team, assembling their own crack team of pros to execute.

I'm not surprised we don't talk about this sort of thing around here more often. It's a gigantic, dirty pile of laundry no one wants to touch. No one in their right mind would defend the practice. The people doing it will deny it. Those who have suffered from it are often publicaly shamed for suggesting such (see a lot of the general attitudes of the comments in this thread).

It makes sense that this practice is more prevalent than people wish to think. Maybe one factor that explains so many "me-too" startups?

Edit: Maybe I could call this phenomenon "Idea inspiration."