Product Liability Law Affecting Marine Technological Activity

The term "product liability" may be defined as the legal\´ liability to respond by payment of damages by those who manufacture, create, or deal in products or services which, when defectively made or rendered, cause injury to the person, property or economic welfare of those who use or are other- wise affected by them. It may also include liability for products or services which, although not defectively made or rendered, require that the user or other person affected by them have special skills or knowledge in order to avoid injury, where no notice or warning of that fact is given to such users and injury occurs. Scientists and engineers who deal with high technology should understand how they may become the sources or the victims of "product liability" accidents. High-energy battery systems are likely sources of "product liability" litigation. This paper discusses product liability law in respect to high energy battery systems used in oceanographic applications.