When the algorithm becomes the product: the new EU Product Liability Directive in logistics plant engineering
· Source: taylorwessing.com
In short
The new EU Product Liability Directive (2024/2853), which must be transposed into German law by December 2026, explicitly classifies software as a product, shifting liability risks for AI-driven logistics systems. Manufacturers of autonomous picking robots, conveyor systems, and cloud-based warehouse management systems face strict liability for software defects, including those arising from machine learning behavior. The article outlines key implications for logistics plant engineering, including reversed burden of proof, dynamic defect concepts for learning algorithms, and the need for legal resilience strategies.
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In the issue of week 20, 2026: AI-Powered Automation and Control Towers Drive Supply Chain Transformation
Tags: liability, AI-regulation, automation, plant-engineering, EU-directive, warehouse