Comments on: “When the Robots Attack, How Will We Hold Them Liable?” https://www.overlawyered.com/2009/12/when-the-robots-attack-how-will-we-hold-them-liable/ Chronicling the high cost of our legal system Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:43:38 +0000 hourly 1 By: MF https://www.overlawyered.com/2009/12/when-the-robots-attack-how-will-we-hold-them-liable/comment-page-1/#comment-80515 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:43:38 +0000 http://overlawyered.com/?p=15081#comment-80515 To hold third parties liable for intentionally misusing the machine would be akin to holding a third party liable for some Darwin Award candidate who uses a kitchen knife to bridge an electrical circuit. If you want to hold someone liable, how about starting with the fellas who hacked the robot?

Or how about holding a gun manufacturer liable for the death of someone who was shot by someone holding a gun created by that manufacturer? Similar (erroneous) principle.

]]> By: Steve https://www.overlawyered.com/2009/12/when-the-robots-attack-how-will-we-hold-them-liable/comment-page-1/#comment-80508 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:59:15 +0000 http://overlawyered.com/?p=15081#comment-80508 In the hypothetical from the linked posting, I don’t see how hacking a robot to make it burn a house down would mean liability would extend to the robot’s engineer, software programmer, etc., unless the robot was engineers or programmed with that function. To hold third parties liable for intentionally misusing the machine would be akin to holding a third party liable for some Darwin Award candidate who uses a kitchen knife to bridge an electrical circuit. If you want to hold someone liable, how about starting with the fellas who hacked the robot?

]]> By: Bryan C https://www.overlawyered.com/2009/12/when-the-robots-attack-how-will-we-hold-them-liable/comment-page-1/#comment-80503 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:09:42 +0000 http://overlawyered.com/?p=15081#comment-80503 Even Asimov’s Three Laws aren’t a guarantee of proper behavior. In fact, many of his robot stories were written to exploit various loopholes or potential conflicts. And, as the future police officer Elijah Bailey points out, a robot must first realize it is breaking one of the Laws in order to have them become a factor. If you wanted to commit a crime, an Asimovian robot could make a very good unknowing accomplice.

]]> By: Mark Biggar https://www.overlawyered.com/2009/12/when-the-robots-attack-how-will-we-hold-them-liable/comment-page-1/#comment-80500 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:51:27 +0000 http://overlawyered.com/?p=15081#comment-80500 So no ones tripped over a Roomba yet? And if they do how would this be different the tripping over a kids toy like an RC truck.

]]> By: Soronel Haetir https://www.overlawyered.com/2009/12/when-the-robots-attack-how-will-we-hold-them-liable/comment-page-1/#comment-80465 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:51:28 +0000 http://overlawyered.com/?p=15081#comment-80465 Would it be in an owner’s interest to try and forcibly emancipate a troublesome robot?

]]> By: Benjamin https://www.overlawyered.com/2009/12/when-the-robots-attack-how-will-we-hold-them-liable/comment-page-1/#comment-80457 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:53:05 +0000 http://overlawyered.com/?p=15081#comment-80457 Would common law as to damages caused by peoples animals apply here?

]]> By: B. Cooper https://www.overlawyered.com/2009/12/when-the-robots-attack-how-will-we-hold-them-liable/comment-page-1/#comment-80454 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:02:13 +0000 http://overlawyered.com/?p=15081#comment-80454 I don’t see how regular tort principles wouldn’t be adequate for this. If people are worried about liability going too far, I’m sure the CPSA can promulgate some robot rules to provide Geier pre-emption.

]]> By: Kurt https://www.overlawyered.com/2009/12/when-the-robots-attack-how-will-we-hold-them-liable/comment-page-1/#comment-80448 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:34:00 +0000 http://overlawyered.com/?p=15081#comment-80448 If they are designed according to Asimov’s 3 Laws of Robotics, there won’t be any problems;-)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_laws_of_robotics

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