Libel insurance
5 January 2007 8:55 pmThrough the NUJ, I’ve come across an insurance company in London that provides cover for “libel and slander” and “infringement of copyright”, among other things. The prices start at £251 a year (€372 app), payable in monthly installments if required.
The company today confirmed to me that they do provide the policy (called Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance) to people living in Ireland.
Have asked to see the Schedule and policy wording and also enquired whether it applies to bloggers etc.
More and more publications are now requiring freelancers to indemnify against libel/slander/defamation as a condition of accepting the story. I’ve seen these so-called contracts.
In other words, if there’s a legal challenge the publication washes its hands and points the finger at the writer.
The same publications usually require copyright be assigned to them. So they own the copy but disown any responsibility if the lawyers get involved. Cheeky.
Anyway, I’ll let you know more about the policy details as soon as I have them.