http://www.dirc.org.uk/events/legal/index.htm
CALL FOR PARTICIPATION
DIRC Workshop on Software Quality and the Legal System
13 February 2004, Gray's Inn, London
Focus of the Workshop
Software plays a key role in today's society. We depend on its correct
functioning in many ways: software defects may cause economic loss,
accidents and pollution. There are many factors playing a role in the
creation of software. In the past, designers tended to concentrate on the
technical issues, but as the contact between computers and users becomes
ever more intense, more and more attention must be paid to the connection
between people and computer systems. The broader view of
computer-basedsystems is one of the focal points of the DIRC project which
recognizes that progress can only be made by interdisciplinary approaches.
It is therefore interesting to ask what influence the legal system might
have on software quality. In this workshop we wish to discuss the possible
ways the legal system can help to improve software quality including
consideration of potential pitfalls in trying to legislate in this
difficult area. Questions that will be addressed are:
* Do we need separate product legislation for software dependability?
* What's the effect of the law regarding corporate manslaughter?
* Is there a difference between legal accountability for software
defects and those of other products?
* What legal system serves the public interest with respect to software
dependability best? Should the current system be improved?
* What are the dangers of legislation (increased cost to cover
insurance, &)?
* What is the role of standards like IEC61508?
* What is the role of the Health and Safety at Work Act?
Workshop Programme
9:30 - 10.00 Reception
10.00 - 10:15 Introduction by
<http://www.csr.ncl.ac.uk/people/staffDetails.php?targetId=59>Cliff Jones
<http://www.csr.ncl.ac.uk/>School of Computing Science, University of
Newcastle Upon Tyne
10.15 - 10:45 Product Safety by
<http://www.nabarro.com/people/CV.asp?SectionID=az&DocID=56503&PageNumber=&Practice=&PracticeName=>Dai
Davis
<http://www.nabarro.com>Nabarro Nathanson, Sheffield
10:45 - 11:15 Functional Safety by Ron Bell
HSE, Bootle
11:15 - 11:45 Coffee Break
11:45 - 12:15 Software Safety in Medical Systems by Peter Jordan
12:15 - 12:45 Legal Aspects of Software Procurement by
<http://cwisdb.cc.kuleuven.ac.be/research/E/expertX4148.htm>Jos Dumortier
<http://www.kuleuven.ac.be/>Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
12:45 - 13:15 A Legal Framework for Understanding Software Systems
Behaviour by <http://www.leshatton.org/>Les Hatton
Computing Laboratory, <http://www.kent.ac.uk/>University of Kent, Canterbury
13:15 - 14:15 Lunch
14:15 - 14:45 Corporate Functional Safety Management by Chris Goring
Safety Systems Consultants Ltd, Balcombe
14:45 - 15:15 Application of the HSE Competence Guidelines to Software
Engineering by Rod May
rodmayAssociates, Glentworth
15:15 - 15:45 Legal Accountability for Software Defects by Alan Fisher
Fisher Scoggins Solicitors, London
15:45 - 16:15 Tea Break
16:15 - 17:00 Panel discussion "What contribution could legislation make to
software quality?"
Moderated by <http://www.csr.city.ac.uk/csr_city/staff/bloomfield/>Robin
Bloomfield, <http://www.csr.city.ac.uk>Centre for Software Reliability,
City University, London
Registration
The cost of the workshop is £90 per person (incl. VAT), which includes tea,
coffee and lunch.
Please mail or fax the <WorkshopRegistration.htm>registration form to:
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>Basi Isaacs
City University, Centre for Software Reliability
Drysdale Building, Room E513
10, Northampton Square
EC1V 0HB London
Fax: 020-70408585
Tel: 020-70408423
Could all participants who have special requirements make these known to
Basi Isaacs at the earliest convenience?
Workshop Venue
The workshop will be held in the
<http://www.graysinn.org.uk/tour/tour_interior.htm>Large Pension Room of
<http://www.graysinn.org.uk>Gray's Inn, 8 South Square, Gray's Inn, London,
<http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=531066&y=181732&z=0&sv=WC1R+5ET&st=2&pc=WC1R+5ET&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf>WC1R
5ET.
Organising Committee
<http://www.csr.ncl.ac.uk/people/staffDetails.php?targetId=59>Cliff Jones,
<http://www.csr.ncl.ac.uk/>School of Computing Science, University of
Newcastle Upon Tyne.
<http://www.csr.city.ac.uk/csr_city/staff/vandermeulen/>Meine van der
Meulen, <http://www.csr.city.ac.uk/>Centre for Software Reliability, City
University, London.
Further Information
More information can be obtained from Meine van der Meulen,
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask], 020-70400274. There is a
<Leaflet.htm>leaflet containing information on the workshop, for distribution.
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