A moment to talk about a little something called Errors & Omissions (E&O) Insurance.
What is it?
E&O insurance protects a production company from lawsuits alleging unauthorized use of titles, formats, ideas, characters, plots, plagiarism, unfair competition or privacy, breach of contract, etc.
Why do I need it?
Pretty much when issues possibly arise from the content of a film or frivolous allegations, this coverage will cover the attorney fess and legal costs in order for the filmmaker to be vindicated.
E & O is a requirement for distribution deals with studios, television, cable networks, DVD and Internet sites.
Where do I get it?
Hold on now. Don’t jump the gun too quickly.
A lot of filmmakers drop major $$ on this type of insurance before they have any sort of distribution deal. This is a problem because distributors will have specific terms for the E & O.
Also, a distributor might require it before making the deal, but then not sell your film for a year. Your E & O insurance is for a specific time. No need to waste money on something until you need it. Plus you don’t need it for foreign sales.
So, save your money, and speak with distributors BEFORE you make your movie!