[extension]

Of course, this is hoping for democracy in a system that doesn’t yet require such freedom

Surely nobody expects "democracy" from a privately owned app store. Clarity and good faith, yes. Agreements should be explicit and transparent between the involved parties, and that is really the relationship developers have with the app store, not democratic rule.

[zmmmmm]

Maybe not from a privately owned app store, but since Apple doesn't allow any other way to put software onto the devices any argument about the app store automatically translates to an argument about the whole iOS platform. I think once you start talking about a "platform" expectations about equality, fair treatment and freedom from persecution by the platform owner are very normal expectations. I guess the question is whether iOS is actually worthy of being called a "platform" in this sense - perhaps it is not.

[lleger]

OK: democracy was the wrong word to use here. However, the point still remains and you've quite nailed it — there needs to be clarity between Apple and the developers of their platform.