Specialty Communication Insurance

Specialty communication insurance is a type of coverage that is specifically designed to protect businesses and individuals that are involved in the communication industry. This can include companies that provide services such as telecommunications, internet, and cable, as well as those that produce and distribute content for television, radio, and online platforms.

One of the key features of specialty communication insurance is that it is tailored to meet the unique needs of these industries. This means that it covers a wide range of potential risks and exposures that are specific to the communication field. For example, a telecommunications company might need coverage for damage to their infrastructure, such as cables and towers, while a media company might need coverage for defamation or copyright infringement.

Another important aspect of specialty communication insurance is that it can provide protection for both physical and non-physical risks. For example, it can cover the cost of repairing or replacing damaged equipment, as well as the financial losses that can result from a data breach or cyber attack. This is important because the communication industry is constantly evolving, and new risks are emerging all the time.

In addition to providing coverage for specific risks, specialty communication insurance can also offer a range of additional benefits. For example, it may include coverage for business interruption, which can help to compensate a company for lost income if their operations are disrupted due to a covered event. It may also include liability coverage, which can protect a business from being held liable for damages caused to third parties.

Overall, specialty communication insurance is an essential form of protection for businesses and individuals involved in the communication industry. By providing coverage for a wide range of specific risks and exposures, as well as additional benefits, it can help to protect these companies from financial losses and other negative impacts. With the ever-evolving nature of the communication industry, it is more important than ever for companies to have the right coverage in place to protect against the risks they may face.

This insurance covers claims brought that allege libel, slander, defamation, infringement of copyright, title or slogan, piracy, unfair competition, or misappropriation of ideas, and invasion of the rights of privacy by an advertising agency. It also covers the cost of investigating such claims and defending against the legal actions.

Answering and message centers serve businesses, professionals, contractors, and service companies that must have their calls answered and messages taken around the clock. They may also provide voice mail, fax messaging, printing, photocopying, and similar office services. This coverage insures businesses for injuries alleged to have occurred because of negligent acts, errors, or omissions in performing answering services for others.

Many markets offer coverage for broadcast towers, mobile units, studio (and other) equipment in addition to other inland marine, property, business income, general liability, commercial auto liability and physical damage, crime, and workers compensation coverages. However, there is a limited market for broadcaster's liability. Broadcaster's liability covers errors and omissions (including libel, slander, invasion of privacy, and other errors) that result from broadcasting operations. The potential legal liability of a broadcaster varies and includes (but is not limited to) the use of incorrect news stories, libel, slander, invasion of privacy, copyright infringement, and unauthorized use of a plot, characters, or music. Broadcasters liability insurance covers these exposures and provides defense costs incurred to contest suits or claims.

This is a media liability policy that insures the cable television industry. It covers claims that allege libel, slander or defamation, infringement of copyright, literary title or slogan, and piracy, plagiarism, idea misappropriation, and invasion of privacy that arises from the content of both original and other programming distributed over the system. In addition to covering the insured's legal liability for these claims, it also covers the cable operators' liability assumed under contracts with sponsors and advertising agencies, as well as the liability assumed under franchise agreements with towns and cities. Assumed liability claims are covered only if they fall within the scope of coverage.

Insurance coverage is available for theatrical groups, choruses, symphony orchestras, bands, and other performing arts organizations that depend on community support and involvement. Coverage includes commercial general liability, property coverage for equipment, props, and costumes, sets the theater owns, rents, or borrows, and accident/medical insurance for participants.

Commercial and personal lines carriers restrict coverage related to online activities. As a result, separate cyber liability coverage forms and endorsements are necessary to cover exposures such as libel, slander, infringement of copyright, and invasion of privacy. Coverage is also needed when hackers infiltrate a company's computer system and steal valuable third-party information, such as social security numbers, credit card numbers, and health information. Many companies offer cyber liability coverage but forms are not standardized. Some companies include first party coverage for damage to computer systems because of hacking and other types of viruses.

This coverage is increasingly important for any entertainment production company. There is a very real possibility that a title used in a television series or film may infringe on the same or a similar title used in the past or that a motion picture's plot might too closely follow a previously released show. Entertainment title and copyright research firms offer valuable assistance to carriers that handle film and television producers' errors and omissions.

Film and television producers indemnity insurance is better known as cast insurance. It protects a film or television production company against loss caused when filming must be abandoned because the star or a key character is injured, becomes ill, or dies. It also covers extra expenses incurred to complete a film if totally abandoning it is not required. These specialty underwriters provide a market for this coverage:

Identity theft liability is an evolving coverage. The most basic form covers liability imposed on a business because it failed to adequately protect certain vital information that its customers supplied. This information is such that its theft can allow the customers' identity to be stolen. Many carriers are expanding beyond this basic coverage to provide loss control assistance to prevent such losses and intense case management activities following a security breach in an attempt to lessen the impact of any loss.

Independent pay telephone operators are replacing the larger telecom companies in providing access to public telephones. Property and casualty coverage has been designed to address the specific insurance needs of these operators. General liability and excess liability coverage is available. Property coverage is available for the operator's office personal property and the individual payphones.

This coverage is unusual because it is a plaintiff payment rather than a defense payment. It pays the expenses the insured incurs in order to enforce its patents, trademarks, copyrights, and computer programs. It also pays for the insured's legal costs when a patent, trademark, or copyright is challenged in a countersuit for invalidity. Coverage applies on a claims-made basis and excludes liability for compensatory or consequential damages, or fines, punitive, exemplary, or multiple damages. The insured must participate in expense reimbursement.

Many businesses have established themselves as specialists in computer website design and consulting. These companies serve small businesses and help them market their products on the Internet. Other services provided include process reengineering, networking, and technical writing. Insurance package policies have been developed that cover personal injury liability, including libel, slander, copyright, and trade slogan infringement stemming from electronic communication of information or unauthorized access to a website. They may also cover loss or damage to computer equipment or media and data from vandalism or computer virus, and protection of customers' funds fraudulently withdrawn electronically.

Internet liability is the most rapidly changing area of liability exposure today. The growth in the number of persons who use the Internet regularly has caused most businesses to promote and market their products and services online. These companies have home pages and many communicate with others via email, chat lines, blogs, social media, and more. Liability coverages and exclusions that apply to advertising injury, libel, slander, infringement of copyright, and trademark are being revised to reflect the changing conditions of online communication. A few insurers offer a package of coverages designed to protect businesses that provide online services to their customers and subscribers. These markets write Internet liability:

Errors and omissions insurance is available for marketing and public relations firms that handle their clients' marketing and advertising programs. These firms develop campaigns to promote products or services for manufacturers, dealers, contractors, and other service businesses or individuals. Libel and slander for published or broadcast promotional or advertising material as well as infringement of copyright are serious concerns to these agencies. A media professional liability coverage form or policy is a must for any marketing firm because it covers advertising liability, libel and slander, infringement of copyright, and other types of offenses.

This coverage is available to the media, such as newspapers, book publishers, magazines, radio and television stations, film and program producers, authors, and advertisers. It covers the insured's liability to others for incidents of alleged copyright infringement, plagiarism, libel, slander, and other similar personal and advertising injury claims, subject to a self-insured retention. Most coverage forms include defense coverage as part of the limit of insurance.

Patent infringement insurance responds to suits that claim patent infringement brought in the United States against an insured that manufactures, uses, or distributes a covered product that allegedly infringes on a patent. It covers the costs to defend the suit in addition to the costs to settle the claim with the party that owns the patent.

This coverage is available for commercial printing and related services, such as typesetting, binding, and collating. Errors and omissions insurance covers the insured for claims of damages alleged to have occurred due to wrongful acts, errors, and omissions in the performance of printing services for others. This coverage is not a substitute for publishers or media liability because printers do not supply any original content. It is also not intended for firms that print materials for contests, lotteries, games of chance, or promotional games.

This liability coverage protects publishers of newspapers, magazines and other periodicals, books, and a variety of printed materials against claims that allege defamation of character and libel. It may be issued on a full coverage basis or on a deductible basis. Each risk is underwritten carefully, based on a complete and detailed application. This coverage is also known as media liability. Premium charges are based on criteria such as circulation, prior libel experience, and editorial policies, to name a few. Most insurers refuse to cover foreign language newspapers or periodicals.

Following are some examples of Specialty Communication Insurance claims and the corresponding insurance coverages that can help pay for them:

1. Libel or Slander: A media company could face a lawsuit if they publish or broadcast content that is deemed to be libelous or slanderous. For instance, a celebrity may sue for defamation, claiming that a false statement was made intentionally that led to harm or damage to their reputation. A Specialty Communications Insurance policy can provide the funds to defend such lawsuits and cover the legal expenses and potential damages, thereby preventing a major financial burden for the media company.

2. Copyright Infringement: A blogger could be sued for using copyrighted images or content without permission. If the blogger didn't realize the image was copyrighted, they may face unexpected legal action. In such cases, Specialty Communications Insurance can step in to cover the costs of legal defense, any settlements, or court-ordered damages, helping the blogger navigate through this challenging situation.

3. Breach of Confidentiality: A TV station may face a lawsuit if it unintentionally leaks confidential information during a live broadcast. The affected party could claim significant damages, alleging the breach of confidentiality caused them financial loss or personal harm. Specialty Communications Insurance can provide coverage for the costs of legal defense, settlements, or court-ordered damages, effectively shielding the TV station from a potentially crippling financial hit.

4. Privacy Invasion: A magazine may face legal action for publishing a story that invades an individual's privacy. For example, if a magazine publishes photos taken of a celebrity in their private residence, the celebrity may sue for invasion of privacy. Specialty Communications Insurance can cover the legal fees, settlement costs, or damages awarded by the court, preventing a major financial loss for the magazine.

5. Errors and Omissions: An advertising agency could be sued for making a mistake in an advertisement, such as misquoting a price or misrepresenting a product. The client could claim they suffered a financial loss due to this error. A Specialty Communications Insurance policy could cover the costs of the lawsuit, including legal fees, settlements, or court-ordered damages, protecting the agency from potentially significant financial harm.

6. Emotional Distress: A radio station could be sued for broadcasting content that caused emotional distress to a listener. The listener might claim that the content was offensive or disturbing, leading to psychological harm. In this case, Specialty Communications Insurance can cover the legal costs, including any potential damages awarded, protecting the radio station from financial distress.