2022년 EU 제조물책임지침 개정안의 내용과 그 시사점

Consumer products in the digital age are transforming the way they are produced, distributed and operated. In particular, products with advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) bring great benefits to mankind, while also increasing potential risks. The current Civil Liability Act does not consider new transaction forms through online platforms. In order to clarify the legal responsibility of companies and properly compensate for damages suffered by consumers, new liability rules that reflect these environmental changes must be established. In this regard, the recent legislative response of the European Union (EU) is attracting attention. The revision of the Product Liability Directive (COM (2022) 495 final.) and the AI Liability Directive, which can be applied complementaryly, were announced at the same time. These two Directives will be promulgated by 2024 at the latest and will be enacted into the national law of the Member States within the period set by the Directives. Changes in international legislative trends, including those in Europe, are expected to have a significant impact on Korean companies that want to transform self-driving cars and artificial intelligence robots into high-tech flagship industries. As reviewed earlier, the EU's two Liability Directives announced in September 2022 are expected to have a significant impact on future legislation in Korea. It is necessary to closely observe international legislative trends and set the direction and contents of domestic legislation.