Do car or camera manufacturers provide blueprints for their products? I don't think so. Because they want to sell their own spare parts and accessories for their products. All third party products for these products are based on reverse engineering.
In case of software it is different. The more apps run on a smartphone or other operating system the more copies the vendor will sell.
You're right. Automotive companies generally have tons of first-party parts, however. Third-party or aftermarket parts would compete directly with the auto company.
To my knowledge, however, AC has no competitive interest in discouraging a connector or bridge to another company's complementing product, be it a foraging area, nest, whatever.
Edited by drtrmiller, May 20 2015 - 12:52 PM.