The Hammurabi Codex, dating back to the 18th Century BC, introduced consumer protection laws, exemplified by severe penalties for builders of unsafe structures. Fast forward to 2024, the EU introduced the Product Liability Directive 2024 (PLD 2024), which clarifies software's inclusion in consumer protection frameworks, a shift from PLD 1985. This directive compels software companies to align legal practices with emerging EU regulations, placing a substantial responsibility on them before national laws are enacted by December 2026. Awareness and compliance will be crucial for avoiding severe repercussions.
One example stands out: If a person's house collapses on top of them and they die, the codex states, the builder should also be put to death.
PLD 2024 puts an end to this confusion, as it explicitly covers software products. As the International Bar Association (IBA) explains, 'software that is placed on the market or put into service, whether standalone or in combination with another product, will be subject to the liability regime'.
Software companies that have a Compliance Officer or in-house Legal Counsel should already have PLD 2024 on their radar, but those that don't must seek professional legal advice on the matter sooner rather than later.
#consumer-protection #software-liability #product-liability-directive #eu-regulations #legal-compliance
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