From advertising scripts to photos, various content can be copyrighted and registered with the Library of Congress. Using someone else’s copyright may require permission and license. Otherwise, it can lead to lawsuits. Unless you carry general liability insurance in Houston, TX, copyright infringement issues in court can be complex and expensive. This blog helps you understand how general liability insurance can cover copyright infringement lawsuits.
When Do Copyright Infringement Lawsuits Usually Occur?
A copyright can be infringed upon in several ways. A TV, radio, video, or internet commercial that uses someone else’s music without permission can lead to lawsuits with legal costs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Another way to violate copyright law is to make a copyright owner’s photos, videos, ads, blogs, and other writings or original content available to the public for free without permission. So, if your business borrows photos from another website without taking the necessary steps, it can be a costly court battle. The same applies if your website offers free downloads of content created by someone else.
What you call your business, what you name your products, and the branding you use to promote them all have the potential for copyright infringement, especially if you’re not careful. Here are some missteps a business takes that can trigger infringement litigation:
- Naming your business after a famous person
- Using branding and designs similar to a competitor
- Borrowing popular slogans and taglines from existing ads
- Posting someone else’s copyrighted work on social media
How Does General Liability Safeguard Small Businesses Against Copyright Infringement Lawsuits?
In the event of a court decision involving improper use of a copyright owner’s content, a business can collapse financially without the right business insurance coverage. Luckily, general liability insurance covers the various types of lawsuits surrounding issues of copyright infringement.
If I Own a Media Business, Do I Require More than General Liability Insurance?
General liability insurance covers a wide range of risk areas that can develop into costly lawsuits. It pays the legal costs for issues such as defamation and invasion of privacy. General liability also covers third-party bodily injuries, property damage, and product liability.
If your policy is missing certain coverage, you can add coverage extensions to your policy for extra costs. Here are other types of coverage to consider:
- Professional liability
- Errors and Omissions
Compare Quotes from Trusted Carriers with J Archer
Working in the media involves creating stories about other entities and reaching audiences with copyrighted content. Lawsuits may arise when another business has a complaint about your company’s usage of copyrighted materials. Call our insurance experts at J. Archer Insurance Group to understand how you can protect your media company’s needs. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!
