If I remember correctly, back in the mid 90s, when digital cameras were getting a foothold on Main Street stores, the camera industry came together to agree on a top spec that no-one would step beyond.

Obviously such agreements are always for the benefit of businesses. The normal competition of competing firms would have been far more in the consumers favor.

I'm not sure how long this went on for, or how many intentional plateaus there were - but it might be the same in this case too.