[Klaus]

Yeah, if it's patent related, then I think Canon is making a mistake. It's too short sighted.
Given the very high price of most RF lenses, cheaper alternatives and simply more choice would be very very welcome. This is why the Sony system is so attractive: it features tons of 3rd party options at a very reasonable price, yet you can still get the great but pricey GM lenses if your require ultimate IQ.
You get the best of both worlds really.

The pricing differs substantially from country to country.

e.g. an extreme example:

Pricing for the RF 100-500L
Australia: AUD 4600 (= USD 3500)
US: USD 2700

Conversely - the Sony 200-600G:
Australia: AUD 2600 (= USD 2000)
US: USD 2000
Which actually means that it is cheaper here - the AUD 2600 contains 10% GST - and at the moment you can even get it for as low as AUD 2100.

It's not even a consistent delta but depends on the specific model.