What was the non-proprietary charging option circa 2012 when they started building the charging network? Also, who else were denied license to build the chargi

What was the non-proprietary charging option circa 2012 when they started building the charging network? Also, who else were denied license to build the charging stations at that time to allow for Tesla monopoly? Or was it that everyone else amusingly laughed at the cute effort by an electric mobility upstart who didn’t know better?