This commentary essay explores some broader implications of the article by Aarikka-Stenroos and Sandberg (in this issue) concerning two issues: the principal character of innovation processes and the delineation of networks. The article provides an interesting discussion on how firms can overcome the obstacles of successful commercialization of innovations by the utilization of various types of networks involving developers, producers and users alike. This commentary recognizes two problems in this setting: An overly linear view on innovation processes and NPD, and an overly simplistic view on the delineation of networks. © 2011 Elsevier Inc..