Andrew McMullin
Papers
1
Total Citations
20
H-Index
1
About
Andrew McMullin is a pioneering scholar at the intersection of software engineering, legal liability, and public safety. His most influential work, "No More Soft Landings for Software: Liability for Defects in an Industry That Has Come of Age" (2005), has garnered 20 citations and fundamentally reframed the conversation around software accountability. Rather than focusing on hypothetical sci-fi scenarios, McMullin grounds his analysis in real-world cases where software defects cause serious physical harm—not merely system crashes or data loss. He argues that as software becomes embedded in critical infrastructure, medical devices, and autonomous systems, the industry can no longer rely on "soft landings" from liability. His major contribution lies in bridging technical software engineering with tort law, demonstrating that the maturation of the software industry demands a corresponding evolution in legal responsibility. McMullin’s work is essential reading for engineers, policymakers, and legal scholars grappling with the ethical and practical implications of code that can literally injure. By spotlighting the gap between technological capability and legal frameworks, he has shaped a growing field dedicated to ensuring that innovation does not outpace accountability.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
- 1