The European Commission has abandoned proposed regulations on technology patents, AI liability, and privacy rules for messaging apps, citing a lack of foreseeable agreement among EU lawmakers and member states. The draft rules faced strong opposition from industry groups and major technology firms. A proposed regulation on standard essential patents, designed to streamline licensing disputes for telecom and smart device technologies, was scrapped after opposition from patent holders like Nokia and Ericsson. Car manufacturers and tech giants such as Apple and Google had pushed for reforms to reduce royalty costs.

A proposal that would have allowed consumers to sue AI developers for harm caused by their technology was also withdrawn. The AI Liability Directive, first introduced in 2022, aimed to hold providers accountable for failures in AI systems. Legal experts say the move does not indicate a shift in the EU's approach to AI regulation, as several laws already govern the sector. Meanwhile, plans to extend telecom privacy rules to platforms like WhatsApp and Skype have been dropped. The proposal, first introduced in 2017, had been stalled due to disagreements over tracking cookies and child protection measures.

The decision has drawn mixed reactions from industry groups. Nokia welcomed the withdrawal of patent rules, arguing they would have discouraged European investment in research and development. The Fair Standards Alliance, representing firms such as BMW, Tesla, and Google, expressed disappointment, warning that the decision undermines fair patent licensing. The Commission has stated it will reassess the need for revised proposals but has not provided a timeline for future regulatory efforts.