How to Avoid the Looming Threat of Product Liability Fines

Product liability laws have existed for a long time. If you purchase a coffee maker with a defective heating element that then caught fire and damaged your home, the manufacturer of the coffee maker could be
found liable for the damages. If a design defect in a children’s stroller results in injuries, the manufacturer is likewise liable.

Software has largely been excluded from discussions around product liability. That is changing. As software becomes an increasingly important part of “products,” including critical infrastructure like energy production and distribution, transportation, and medical devices, regulators have begun considering software as part of the product. We are now beginning to see this reflected in product liability regulations.