O’Melveny Launches Automated Vehicles Roadmap
October 31, 2018
New Microsite Provides Federal and State Rules at the Click of a Button
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SILICON VALLEY—October 31, 2018—As the automated vehicle (AV) sector continues to race forward, O’Melveny is launching an online destination to help companies keep pace with the changing federal, state, and local laws governing this fast-changing marketplace.
The microsite, which officially launches today, is a user-friendly resource created by members of O’Melveny’s Automated and Connected Vehicles Industry Group, a cross-practice team that includes lawyers with experience spanning automotive and transportation regulations, data security and privacy, intellectual property, technology acquisitions and financings, products liability, and advertising law.
The new O’Melveny resource, “Automated and Connected Vehicles: A Legal and Regulatory Roadmap,” can be found here.
“State and federal laws related to automated vehicles are evolving, and we created the microsite to help clients and potential clients stay up to date,” said O’Melveny Silicon Valley partner Melody Drummond Hansen, Chair of the firm’s Automated and Connected Vehicles industry group. “The microsite helps innovators navigate existing and proposed rules, as they continue to develop, test, and deploy automated vehicles and enabling technologies. It’s one way we help the companies better predict legal risks so they can fully take advantage of business opportunities.”
The O’Melveny microsite includes overviews of federal AV legislation and regulations—and for states that have adopted AV-specific regulations, the site also highlights topics of particular interest. For example, an individual seeking information on a state such as California will be able to find state bill numbers, corresponding regulatory code, and other critical information, including:
- How the state defines an automated vehicle;
- Whether the state allows deployment or only testing of AV, and what special permits or certificates may be required;
- Any explicit geographical limitations on testing and deployment;
- Specific types of vehicles addressed by state AV laws (e.g., cars, motorcycles, trucks);
- State rules regarding platooning of AVs;
- Whether state AV laws specifically address additional safety features;
- AV provisions specific to data collection and storage;
- Labelling or tagging requirements affecting driverless vehicles.
O’Melveny has long advised automated vehicle clients in transactional, regulatory, and liability-related matters, including data security, privacy, and advertising exposure. Laws specific to AVs are only one kind of laws that potentially affect AV companies. The firm’s cross-practice industry group has deep experience in areas of law relevant to AVs, including products liability, intellectual property and technology, advertising, data security and privacy, competition, financing, and venture capital. O’Melveny also has a history of advising clients on technologies relevant to automated vehicles, including location detection and services, sensors, cameras, advanced driver assistance, artificial intelligence, and mobile telecommunications and connectivity.
“The automated vehicles sector is rapidly expanding, with a combination of billions of dollars being invested at all stages, from early startups to the world’s oldest auto OEMs, and a very active merger and consolidation market,” added Paul Sieben, managing partner of O’Melveny’s Silicon Valley office who has counseled a number of clients in the AV space on venture capital and M&A transactions. “As the industry continues to grow, innovators continue to face new business, regulatory, and legal questions. O’Melveny’s diverse experience makes us well-suited to help clients navigate these questions so they can continue to focus on achieving their business goals.”
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Contact:
Christopher Rieck
O’Melveny & Myers LLP
+1 212 326 2218
crieck@omm.com