Insurance for illustrators?

braden H

Hi guys!

I recently looked over a contract for a project that had a section on requiring insurance. The particular type of insurance wasn't clarified, but I'm assuming it's some kind of liability insurance if I'm sued for unintentional copyright infringement?

Does anyone who's doing this professionally have liability insurance of some kind? Other kinds of insurance?

TamaraDomuzin

Not sure if it's different in USA/Europe, but the contracts within EU that I've signed have a mention of something like this: ''The author guarantees that the subject of this contract is his original work of authorship, that he is the sole holder of the copyright and has to bear full responsibility if a third party appears who claims to be the copyright holder on the subject of this contract.''

It'll be interesting to hear other people's experiences, as I've also never heard of ''insurance'' beside the written agreenment in the contract.

Jeremy Ross

That is correct @Braden-Hallett, since it’s likely you are operating your illustration business as either LLC, Corp or Sole Proprietor, professional liability insurance for your company.

NessIllustration

@Braden-Hallett The only time I've seen this, it was mistakenly left in because the contract was adapted from an agency contract. Ask about it, cause most of the time publishers don't require individual freelancers to actually have insurance.

drawnbyshawn

I think you'll also see this referred to as "errors and omissions" insurance. I do have this, mainly because when I was setting up my business I saw enough suggestions to get it. I didn't get it due to a contract requiring it though. Is it overkill? Could I get by without it? Possibly. But, I like to err on the safe side usually, so it's a worthwhile business expense for me.

Nyrryl Cadiz

@Braden-Hallett huh... this is the first time I've heard of it. Granted, I haven't done a lot of jobs so maybe that's why. Maybe you can clarify this more with your agent.

braden H

@Jeremy-Ross said in Insurance for illustrators?:

since it’s likely you are operating your illustration business as either LLC, Corp or Sole Proprietor,

Not as of yet, but probably a good idea!

@drawnbyshawn said in Insurance for illustrators?:

I think you'll also see this referred to as "errors and omissions" insurance.

Yeah, that's what I'm taking a look at. Can't hurt, might help, right?

@Nyrryl-Cadiz said in Insurance for illustrators?:

Maybe you can clarify this more with your agent.

The reponse was "as long as he has personal insurance he'll be fine" and that it wasn't anything to worry about. Which makes me worry. And is also not an informative answer, lol

Nyrryl Cadiz

@Braden-Hallett good to know

NessIllustration

@Braden-Hallett You should probably ask again then It seems the sort of thing not to sit on. If you're worried, definitely request to speak more about it!

braden H

@NessIllustration Turns out as per their lawyer that it's a standard contract they use for businesses, which they sometimes use for freelancers. I've been told I do not need insurance in this case.

I'm still gonna be doing some research on some basic oversight and omission kind of insurance though. I'd imagine it wouldn't cost much

NessIllustration

@Braden-Hallett LOLLLL omg that's the same thing that happened to me, the one I mentioned 2 days ago haha

braden H

@NessIllustration I sometimes get the feeling that not many people actually read their contracts and ask questions, lol. So far most clients have been pretty surprised by their own clauses

Jeremy Ross

@Braden-Hallett, I always preach RTFC, read the full contract!

NessIllustration

@Braden-Hallett That's hilarious!