Thanks for taking a stand, but isn't it a given that apple owns and controls the app store. If one doesn't like the rules, don't buy apple and don't make apps for their store. Simple no?
One VLC developer says that it is fine under the current TOS to distribute VLC on the App Store: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1850340
This sounds like a giant mess of FUD and clever trolling. The FSF is complaining about something that both Apple and VideoLAN had no part of, but that's who they can point fingers at. Why isn't anyone complaining about Applidium, who were the ones that coerced VLC into the app store, which effectively "changed the licensing terms" of a project who's licence says that it cannot be re-licensed?
edit: the above paragraph is referring to the mess that the FSF article is claiming to be an issue, not the fact that VLC's licence can comply with the terms of the app store.
In all reality, Apple wants every piece of quality[1] software on the planet to be distributed through their store, even if it is free and can be obtained elsewhere. The GPL/FSF guys seem to be more restrictive about where their software can and cannot be released than Apple is restrictive on what kind of software can be included in their store at this point. It is making everyone look bad. Can't we just get along?
[1] Ambiguous term, I know.
The developers of VLC for the iPhone, Applidium, took a risk with this app.
Interestingly that risk initially was Apple not approving the application.
But now that risk has actually become their fellow VLC developers turning against them and filing copyright infringements with Apple to get the app removed from the store.
Nobody wins. Sad.
If you don't like Apple's dystopian future, then reducing the incentives to own an iOS device sounds more effective than merely not subsidizing the platform.