S4x24 Interview With Stewart Baker: Legal Issues on Software Liability & SEC Case Against Solarwinds
Stewart Baker
S4x24 - ICS Security Conference · Day 3 · Main Stage
This talk features Stewart Baker, a distinguished legal expert with extensive experience in Washington law, discussing the intricate and evolving landscape of **software liability**. The conversation, while initially framed to cover both software liability and the SEC case against SolarWinds, focuses exclusively on the former in the provided transcript. Baker delves into the historical context of product liability, contrasting its established principles with the unique challenges posed by software and cybersecurity incidents. He highlights the critical tension between the desire to hold software producers accountable for defects and the potential for such liability to stifle technological innovation.
AI review
Stewart Baker's discussion on software liability, while not a kernel exploit, is a critical deep dive into the legal framework that defines our operational risks. He expertly dissects traditional product liability and highlights why applying it to software is a minefield, citing historical precedent, economic theory, and judicial caution. This isn't a fluff piece; it provides crucial, actionable signal for anyone building, buying, or defending software, particularly regarding the nuances of EULAs, open-source components, and the practical hurdles of corporate litigation. It's a sobering but…