Shutdown of the ODR Platform: What Online Retailers Need to Know Starting in July 2025
Important news for e-commerce: With the final shutdown of the Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform on July 20, 2025, the European Commission is bringing about significant changes to the day-to-day legal operations of online retailers. Until now, all online store operators—including businesses active on marketplaces or social media—were required to provide a link to the ODR platform.
The European Commission’s decision means that, starting in July 2025, a link to the ODR platform will no longer be required. In online retail practice, this means that many e-commerce operators will no longer be subject to this specific information requirement. Nevertheless, individual obligations—particularly in cases where cease-and-desist declarations have already been issued—may continue to apply.
Legal Background and Rationale for the Discontinuation
The ODR platform was introduced by the EU in 2016 as a central digital tool to resolve disputes between consumers and online providers outside of court proceedings. However, low usage by consumers and a high administrative burden meant that the platform’s practical utility remained severely limited.
Practical Implications for Online Retailers
- Required to be removed: As of July 20, 2025, completely remove the link to the ODR platform from your website and from your Terms and Conditions.
- No successor platform: There is currently no replacement or successor platform that would need to be linked to.
- Consider consumer-friendliness: If the broken link remains online, it may cause confusion among potential buyers.
Note: Anyone using automated or dynamic legal texts should ensure that all links are removed by July 2025 at the latest to avoid misunderstandings and miscommunication.
Cease-and-desist letters and declarations of discontinuance: What else needs to be considered?
In recent years, the ODR platform has led to numerous cease-and-desist letters because links were missing, incorrect, or not technically implemented correctly. In particular, the Association for Legal and Financial Consulting of German Online Companies (IDO Association) has used this issue as a basis for legal disputes.
- Missing ODR Platform Link
- Outdated or incorrect address
- Insufficiently clickable link
Consequence: As a result, many merchants submitted written cease-and-desist declarations subject to penalties. Such declarations are binding in the long term—regardless of the legal status of the ODR platform—and provide for a contractual penalty in the event of a violation.
Individual Review and Next Steps
Anyone who has received a cease-and-desist letter and submitted a cease-and-desist declaration must take action now. While the obligation may end with the discontinuation of the ODR platform in the case of “dynamic” wording, there is a formal continuation of the obligation for static references to URL addresses. In such cases, there is a risk of contractual penalties even after July 20, 2025.
- Dynamic wording: Obligation ends with the platform’s closure
- Static wording (e.g., specified URL): Obligation continues
Recommended Action:
Contact an experienced attorney in a timely manner to clarify existing obligations from a legal perspective. Our parent company, Clarius Legal Rechtsanwaltsaktiengesellschaft, offers reliable legal advice upon request to ensure you can act with confidence even beyond the deadline.
Discontinuation of the ODR Platform: Industry Outlook
With the discontinuation of the ODR platform, information obligations for e-commerce companies will be reduced, and the consumer focus will shift toward other dispute resolution bodies and internal solutions. It remains to be seen whether—and what kind of—innovations the EU will introduce in the future with regard to consumer protection.
Removing the link to the ODR platform is not merely a formal step—it also offers an opportunity to modernize your legal notices and terms and conditions. Those who wish to professionally address individual risks arising from past obligations should use the deadline as an opportunity to conduct a review.
Conclusion and Recommendations for Online Retailers
With the abolition of the ODR platform, an EU-wide obligation regarding online dispute resolution—which was rarely used actively to resolve conflicts—comes to an end. For online retailers, it is essential to remove links by the deadline and to conduct a legal review of any existing obligations related to cease-and-desist declarations. Experience shows that companies that plan for these adjustments early on benefit the most. Incidentally,the abbreviation “ODR” stands for Online Dispute Resolution.
Stephan Dunger
Stephan Dunger is one of the brains behind the XONIC store system. He has been developing the platform together with the team since 2012 - from the database to the interfaces to the checkout.
A passionate programmer, technical mind and consultant at the same time: with his in-depth knowledge of store systems and e-commerce, Stephan combines the depth of a developer with an eye for the big picture. Together with the XONIC team, he shapes the technical direction, consistently thinks about functions from the retailer's perspective and advises on customized solutions.
The result is software with a face: customers don't get an anonymous provider, but a direct line to the people who develop XONIC. Pragmatic, fast and at eye level.
