Very soon our skies will be filled with drones. Every year millions of drones are bought and put to use by businesses and individuals for everything from conducting surveillance and crop science to filming weddings, bar mitzvahs and other celebrations. But what happens when the drone your 12 year-old son is flying loses contact with the controller causing it to crash into a local restaurant that then catches fire and is forced to shut down for 1 week? Unfortunately, drones also have great potential to lead to liability for manufacturers, retailers, pilots… and parents!
In this CLE course attorneys Eric Hanscom and Ed Burns provide an excellent discussion of the rise of drones and emerging areas of potential liability. The main points of discussion include the many uses of drones, drone regulation, drone liability and best practices for legal claims. Eric and Ed also address the mechanics of UAVs, FAA regulation, commercial vs. hobbyist use, the 333 exemption, local ordinances, flying on federal land, state vs. federal law, liability for those in the chain of commerce, negligence, drones & privacy rights, commercial uses for drones and key points to consider if you are faced with a drone claim.
Before beginning his own practice Eric Hanscom utilized his science background and law degree to gain experience in multiple facets of patent, trademark and copyright law and the application of those property rights. He has been actively involved in overseeing litigation, contract negotiation and customs issues in the US, Asia, Europe, South American and Australia over matters ranging from patent and trademark infringement to breach of contract. Edward W. Burns has extensive litigation experience in State and Federal Court and assists clients in protecting corporate intellectual property, including infringement litigation. Mr. Burns also practices in the preparation, review and filing of corporate documents and filings, employment contracts, independent contractor agreements, and employee handbooks, business contracts, supply and production agreements, sponsorship agreements and leases.