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Legal dispute over electric cars: lawyer discovers serious software defects!
IT lawyer Chan-jo Jun is suing MG-4 manufacturers for open source software defects. Deadline set for subsequent fulfillment.
Legal dispute over electric cars: lawyer discovers serious software defects!
An exciting case aims to set new standards in the automotive industry. IT lawyer Chan-jo Jun has initiated legal action against his car dealer and the importer of the “MG-4” electric car. This comes against the background that the vehicle has deficient features, particularly in relation to compliance with open source software licenses. In a detailed 18-page letter, the vehicle is classified as not meeting legal requirements.
The core problem? The use of software that does not comply with the license terms. According to stadt-bremerhaven.de, the manufacturer must meet specific requirements. This includes providing copyright notices, license texts and the source code of the software used. The highlight: This information could not be found on the MG-4 and was not provided when asked. A real nuisance that caused the buyer to take action.
Clarity about rights and obligations
The lack of proof of the rights to use the software represents a clear legal defect that is covered by the warranty. The buyer gave the car dealer a deadline for supplementary performance. Since correcting the software defects may be beyond the scope of the car dealership, the importer was also included in the legal steps. There is a suspicion that the MG-4 software may have been developed without taking the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) licenses into account. If this is the case, the vehicle could even be taken out of circulation, according to Jun.
Jun has already contacted the Federal Motor Transport Authority and will remain informed about the further development of the case. This situation sheds light on the importance of license compliance in the automotive industry, which is increasingly relying on open source software to integrate innovative technologies.
The role of open source software in the automotive industry
Open source software plays a crucial role in the automotive industry. According to bitsea.de, modern vehicles use between 60 and 80 computers, each responsible for specific functions. These systems rely on around 50 to 80 million lines of software code, most of which come from third parties.
Given this complexity, automakers must ensure they comply with OSS licensing regulations. Managing this compliance is challenging. Developments such as autonomous vehicles, sensor technologies and in-vehicle infotainment applications make it even more important to correctly manage and document the software. Connectivity is the goal - but not at the expense of compliance with licensing requirements.
This case could serve as a wake-up call for the entire industry to rethink the current approach to open source software and ensure that all legal aspects are considered from the outset. “There’s something going on,” you could say – and we can’t wait to see what happens next.