In October, merchants took on additional liability on card transactions. Previously, card issuers carried that liability alone. Now, in the event of a fraudulent transaction, whichever party hasn't upgraded to EuroPay, MasterCard and Visa chip technology, whether a merchant upgrading its credit card terminal or a card issuer upgrading to chip cards, bears the cost. The change is the first step in transitioning United States payment practices, which rely on magnetic swipe cards, to the chip cards that predominate elsewhere