28. Does the Data Act apply to manufacturers of connected products and providers of related services that are established outside the EU?

Yes. The Data Act does not require the manufacturer or related service provider to be established in the EU. The Data Act establishes a right for users in the EU to access, use and share the readily available data they are entitled to. All connected products and related services placed in the EU must therefore be designed in such a way that this right can be exercised. All legal requirements must be met when the connected product is placed on the EU market or when the related service is offered. The related service is linked to the connected product’s functioning, so the place of establishment of the provider of the related service is not a factor in determining whether they fall within the scope of the Data Act.