Motorola cites EU Law Loophole to Avoid 5-Year Software Support mandate
Brussels, Belgium – Motorola is challenging the spirit of new European Union legislation designed to extend software support for smartphones and tablets, arguing a single word – “if” – allows them to avoid providing updates for the full five-year period required by the rules.
Starting June 20, 2025, the EUS Ecodesign regulations mandate that devices receive OS updates for at least 5 years from the date of sale. While moast manufacturers have moved to comply, Motorola scrutinized the legislation and found a potential loophole.
The company points to Schedule 2, title 1.2, paragraph 6(a) of the regulation, which states: “From the date of end of placing on the market until at least 5 years from this date, manufacturers […], if provide security updates, corrective updates, or functionality updates for an operating system, make such updates available free of charge…”
Motorola contends that the inclusion of “if” means manufacturers are not obligated to provide five years of software support, only that any updates they choose to offer must be free for that duration.
“So, if you’ve ever wondered why Motorola doesn’t offer longer-term software support, it’s as they’ve interpreted European legislation differently,” sources close to the matter confirmed.
it remains unclear whether EU legislators will amend the wording to eliminate ambiguity and enforce the intended five-year support requirement.
Source: gizmochina.com
