Examples are components which, while identical to the component requiring replacement, will refuse to work until coded to match the intended device with some proprietary cable (which is really a normal cable with a couple of wires reversed or some other dick move).
If someone such as Apple wants to use Lightning because they find existing specs to be deficient, they should get the spec standardized before theyre allowed to implement a device using it. Specifications should ideally be unencombered by patents or for a fair and reasonable license.
Additionally implementers of a spec should be required to have their implementations verified that they adhere to the spec by an independent lab, such as UL (Underwriters Lab), and be fined into nonexistence if they forge the lab's marks.
This should also cut down on the snake oil cables, such as $90 gold plated HDMI cables.