AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE: RELIANCE.

(a) In an action for fraud, misrepresentation, disparagement, libel, or other similar action based on the alleged falsity or misleading character of a computer date statement or an express warranty, it is an affirmative defense to liability that:

(1) the defendant reasonably relied on the computer date statement or express warranty of an independent, upstream manufacturer or seller of the computer product or computer service product that the computer product or computer service product would not manifest computer date failure;

(2) the statement was false or misleading; and

(3) the defendant did not have actual knowledge that the statement or warranty was false or misleading.

(b) In this section, "computer date statement" means a material statement about a computer product or computer service product regarding the present or future ability of a computer product in relation to avoiding computer date failure, including a statement that a computer product or computer service product:

(1) is "Year 2000 Compliant" or a similar representation; or

(2) complies with a computer date standard established by a state or federal regulatory agency or by a national or international standards organization.