On February 18, the Law & Economics Center at George Mason University Scalia Law School held the event “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Civil Justice — Can Common Law Adjust to a Drone World?” on the increasing use of drone technology and its intersection with the law.

Drones are increasingly being used for all sorts of economic and recreational activities, from bringing you the best images of a halfpipe contestant flying in the air at the Olympics to ensuring the most efficient mapping of agricultural resources to searching hard to reach or see areas like mines, caves, or under bridges to, of course, surveillance and weaponry which were some of their earliest uses. The possibilities for use are also ever-expanding, including the futuristic delivery of packages. As with all things, as technology improves, prices go down, and the technology becomes more accessible; thus the breadth of users and uses is sure to continue on an ever-faster upward trajectory. The law too, must be ready to adapt. The speakers in this webinar are all experts on the intersection of drones and the law. They will discuss whether the common law – including property, contracts, and torts – is fit to adapt to the new drone world. The experts will examine what lawyers, judges, and policymakers need to understand to help the law adjust. Among other topics, the panelists will discuss some of the themes and concerns raised in a January 5, 2022 report from the Institute for Legal Reform, Torts of the Future: Drones.

Donald J. Kochan, Professor of Law and Deputy Executive Director of the Law and Economics Center, moderated the discussion between Hillary Farber, Troy Rule, and Joshua S. Turner.

Watch a video of the event below.