> If basically everyone follows, then why require it and shut off or slow down future innovation? Regulations like this are nearly always obsolete by the time they are implemented.
Apple doesn't follow it. Also the reason companies settled was that EU threated them with regulations, if they didn't follow through when some companies (Apple) misbehaves it would mean that such threats would lose teeth and wont solve future problems. So if anything the problem here isn't EU, the reason that law is coming is Apple. Best possible scenario is that companies dynamically create new standards and fall inline, but Apple refuses to play along so regulations are necessary.
They did follow it. The initial agreement was about chargers, not cables, and you can charge any iPhone off any usb charger. Now, we can discuss the spirit versus the letter, but they signed the agreement and followed it.
Apple doesn't follow it. Also the reason companies settled was that EU threated them with regulations, if they didn't follow through when some companies (Apple) misbehaves it would mean that such threats would lose teeth and wont solve future problems. So if anything the problem here isn't EU, the reason that law is coming is Apple. Best possible scenario is that companies dynamically create new standards and fall inline, but Apple refuses to play along so regulations are necessary.