Errors and Omissions Insurance 101
When it comes to Errors and Omissions Insurance—a.k.a. E&O Insurance—many writers, directors, and producers are not sure where to begin.
E&O Insurance is vital to protect production houses, distributors, film festivals, and television networks from lawsuits and stalled film and television projects.
The release of your film or television project hinges on attorney-approved clearance to satisfy your E&O carrier, your distributor, and often even your financiers.
Obtaining a script clearance report is the first and most important step to reduce legal exposure and ensure your project stays on track.
If you’re not sure why it’s important to take this step, we’ve created a brief overview of what this insurance is and why you need it.
What Is E&O Insurance?
E&O Insurance is not unique to the film, television, and video game industries. This wide-ranging coverage is designed for any entity that provides professional services.
Also known as Professional Liability Insurance, E&O Insurance protects you in case your work gets caught in a legal battle.
Errors & Omissions Insurance is required in order to distribute your content on television networks, cable channels, DVD and BluRay, major studios, and even the Internet. It protects you from the overlooked mistakes that exist in every project and may lead to costly legal battles.
Why Is E&O Insurance Necessary?
- Here are only a handful of reasons many cases in the film and television industry end up in legal trouble.
- Use of preexisting names, products, and businesses.
- Music scores that sound like previously recorded pieces.
- Libel and slander claims.
- Defamation of character lawsuits.
- Trademark infringement based on title
- Publicity rights arguments.
- Product disparagement.
Regardless of whether not the lawsuit is merited E&O Insurance protects your project.
What Happens When You Don’t Have E&O Insurance?
The short answer: you leave yourself vulnerable to legal exposure.
There are steps you can take right now to protect your work with Errors and Omissions Insurance.
To be considered for coverage, the first step is to attain a script clearance report.
Among other protective measures, a script clearance report provides information needed to satisfy your E&O carrier. Our page-by-page legal analysis alerts the producer to areas of possible legal exposure.
Your underwriter will also likely want to see a title report, title opinion, and copyright report.
Our experienced team of researchers will compile your report, and prior to delivery, an experienced entertainment attorney will review and revise your report.
And then you have what you need to get covered with Errors and Omissions Insurance.
We know exactly what your insurance underwriter is looking for, and we compile our reports as easy-to-read documents so there is no added delay in the E&O underwriting process.
Gain access to your script clearance report here.