What Is Media Liability Insurance?

What Does Media Liability Insurance Cover?

A complaint about an article, campaign or video can raise different issues from a data breach or a professional-services error. ²

Media liability can address claims about content your business creates or distributes, including allegations such as defamation or infringement. ^2,1

Published Content and Allegations

Check which defamation, privacy, copyright, trademark and other rights claims the policy addresses. ²

Match the Activities

Describe the content you create, publish, broadcast or distribute, then check that the quote includes those activities. ^2,3

Who Needs Media Liability Insurance?

Consider media liability if you publish content, create campaigns or videos for clients, or distribute other people's material. ³

Media Liability Insurance Coverage Examples

What happened

A Photographer Challenges Your Campaign

Your team publishes a campaign image, then receives a copyright complaint from the photographer.

How coverage may help

Media liability may cover the claim if the policy includes that right and activity. License terms and responsibility for client-supplied material can affect the answer. ^2,1,3

What happened

A Customer Story Reveals Private Information

Someone featured in your customer story says you published private information without permission.

How coverage may help

Media liability may address privacy allegations about published content. The covered offenses and the activities named in your policy determine whether the claim fits. ^2,1,3

How Do You Compare Media Liability Insurance Coverage and Costs?

Contracts and Rights

Keep licenses and client agreements with your content inventory. A stock image may have usage or territory restrictions, and a client may have supplied a logo or testimonial you didn't create. The policy's treatment of those materials and contractual promises can affect a claim. ^2,3

Defense, Limits and Settlement

Compare the retention, whether defense costs reduce the limit, who chooses counsel and what happens if you reject a proposed settlement. ²

What Exclusions and Conditions Should You Check in Media Liability Insurance?

Dates and Reporting

Check what triggers coverage, any retroactive date and how to report claims and potential claims. ²

For an older blog post, keep the publication date, the date the complaint arrived and the date you reported it together. ²

Known Issues and Content Restrictions

Ask how the policy treats known disputes, deliberately false content, contractual promises and patent allegations. ²

How Does Media Liability Insurance Compare With Related Coverage?

Media, General Liability, Cyber and E&O

Compare media coverage with general liability’s personal and advertising injury provisions and with your cyber or professional liability coverage. ^1,3

What Do You Need for Media Liability Insurance Quotes?

Content Inventory

Prepare your content and audience, distribution territories, revenue by activity, client agreements, and prior complaints or claims. ^{3 3 2,3 2,3}

Editorial and Permissions Processes

Describe how you review accuracy, obtain rights and releases, and handle complaints or removal requests. ³

Media Liability Insurance: Key Terms in Plain English

Covered Media Activities

The creation, publication, broadcast or distribution activities the policy identifies. ^2,3

Defense Within Limits

When defense expenses use the policy limit, less may remain for a settlement. Check your quote's actual treatment. ²

Media Liability Insurance: A Policy Example to Compare

See Corgi's guide for an example of one provider's coverage terms and optional extensions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Media Liability Insurance