Intellectual Property Insurance
How IP insurance responds to infringement claims, defence costs and rights disputes.
What Is Covered
Defence Costs
Policies may pay legal fees when the insured is sued for infringing a third party's patent, trademark or copyright.
Enforcement
Some policies fund action against an infringer, which can be useful where the cost of pursuing a claim would otherwise be prohibitive.
Loss of Value
Certain wordings respond where an injunction forces a product off the market or a brand must be rebranded.
Rights Clearance
Cover can be arranged before launch to test whether a name, design or invention is free to use.
Reading the Wording
The insuring clause is only the starting point. Exclusions, deductibles and conditions often decide the outcome of a claim.
- Check whether the territory matches where you trade.
- Confirm the policy covers the specific jurisdictions you use.
- Look for notification deadlines and consent requirements.
Common Questions
Some policies respond to unregistered rights such as copyright or passing off. Confirm this with the wording before relying on it.
Most policies exclude claims the insured knew about before the policy started. Disclose known risks at inception to avoid disputes later.
Where It Fits
IP insurance sits alongside, not instead of, a clear IP strategy. Read our strategy article and the glossary before comparing policies.