Android phones, apps and tablets

You mean just like (say) Dell being liable for your PC getting a virus because they load a standard "Dell-ised" image of Win7 on it without the latest patches?

No chance- I am sure the EULA will protect them all down the line also.

Look at the abject failure of Google when they tried to cut down on the power of the networks with the Nexus One.

Your example is the opposite of what I'm saying. Dell doesn't stop their customers from getting updates directly from MS. They would have to sell laptops with Windows 7 and then refuse MS from passing through updates for the comparison to be made. As far as I'm aware, this doesn't happen. In fact, more likely than not, the first thing that happens when you turn one on is an update direct from MS.