Liability Issues in Advanced Robotics: An Introduction for European In-House Counsels

Corrado Druetta, Legal Counsel - Comau S.p.A., Comau S.p.A., Italy

On February 16th 2017, the European Parliament adopted the Resolution on Civil Law Rules on Robotics, to address legal and ethical issues emerging from technological developments in the field of robotics, automation and artificial intelligence. Among others, liability issues in human-robot interaction are matters of great concern for European institutions. The Resolution calls for new approaches to be implemented into EU legal framework with regard to harmful behaviours of autonomous machines which, in EU Parliament’s view, are not sufficiently nor efficiently addressed under traditional legal subjects, such as product liability. After giving a complete outlook on contractual and non-contractual liability for damages caused by advanced robots, this paper will present a description of new approaches highlighted by the European Parliament and provide hints for in-house counsels in business sectors affected by ‘Industry 4.0’ revolution on how to prevent or limit risks for their companies in the next future.

Corrado Druetta is a qualified Italian attorney, currently Legal Counsel at Comau S.p.A., a Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles’ company, where he acts as legal point of reference for Robotics and Automation Products business unit. Corrado started his professional career in private practice, then moved to in-housel counselling within the FCA Group. He gained a relevant experience in IT law, IP law, Freedom of Expression Online and Innovation and co-authored publications in the same fields.

Comau S.p.A. is an Italian multinational company (within the FCA Group), based in Grugliasco (Italy) with over 20 subsidiaries worldwide, active in developing and manufacturing industrial automation and robotics products and services.