Introduction and overview of applicable law The success of the upcoming launch of Level 3 (highly automated) vehicles in Germany, targeted for year of 2020, will depend not only on technologically flawless equipment, but also compliance with product liability and safety standards. This briefing provides an overview of a manufacturer’s obligations under product liability, and corresponding tortious producer liability, law in Germany. Within the framework of manufacturer’s liability for defective products, there are various regulations under which the manufacturer is liable for any damage incurred. The most important civil law principles here are (1) product liability under the Product Liability Act and (2) tortious producer liability under the German Civil Code. Read Mor […]

1. Cars ruined the American city. Can AVs save it? Since at least the 15th century, the era’s dominant mode of transportation has always had a way of exerting itself, often unfavorably, on the fabric of cities, but nowhere responded to the automobile with the same ill-considered enthusiasm as the American city, which forfeited one of its most precious public social spaces—its street—in a way that Europeans never did. Now, urban planners from the United States’ largest cities believe the arrival of autonomous vehicles represents a rare opportunity for car-subservient downtowns to reset the board finally. This week the National Association of City Transportation Officials, an 81-city coalition that includes New York, Boston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Seattle, unveiled a 131-page blueprint to refocus contemporary urban planning to take advantage of self-driving cars.  The plan envisions a future of more parks and fewer parking lots by addressing high-capacity transit, smart-city data collection and use, congestion pricing mechanisms, and the delivery of urban freight. Read Mor […]

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently released draft standards for IoT cybersecurity that may inform similar efforts in the autonomous vehicle industry. The report, entitled “A Starting Point for IoT Device Manufacturers,” seeks to provide the IoT device industry with a better understanding of necessary and appropriate cybersecurity features. Specifically, it highlights best practices for secure software design and development. NIST is seeking public comment on its proposals through September 30, 2019. As the broader IoT industry coalesces around specific security practices, automotive and technology companies will gather valuable intelligence on security measures that are fundamental to widespread adoption and public acceptance of autonomous vehicles. Read Mor […]

In a preemptive effort designed to enhance transparency for the upcoming 2020 elections, Facebook has announced that it will strengthen its digital advertisement program rules for political ads to increase disclosure requirements for advertisers using the platform. The decision comes after months of scrutiny from Congress and growing public concern over the use of Facebook’s […] The post Facebook releases updated disclosure rules for political ads in advance of 2020 elections appeared first on Soapbox. […]

On June 27, 2019, the Supreme Court decided Rucho v. Common Cause, a highly-anticipated case stemming from legal challenges to the purported partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts in Maryland and North Carolina.  In a 5-4 ruling, the Court held that partisan gerrymandering claims present political questions beyond the reach of the federal courts. Consequently, gerrymandering […] The post Partisan Gerrymandering Upheld by U.S. Supreme Court appeared first on Soapbox. […]

The following comes by way of Dentons50 partner firm Capitol Consultants Now that the budget has been signed and the type of vetoes that Governor Tony Evers has made are not compelling the Legislature back into session, attention now turns toward the remainder of the 2019-2020 Legislative Session. Legislative Committee activity will drop in frequency […] The post With budget signed, a look ahead at remainder of Wisconsin’s legislative session appeared first on Soapbox. […]