What Is IP Infringement Defense Insurance?
It is coverage intended to help defend against specified allegations that the insured infringed another party’s IP. Rights, products, limits, and approved legal costs depend on the policy.
IP infringement defense insurance applies to the defensive side of a dispute: someone alleges that the insured's product, mark, work, or other scheduled activity infringes their rights. IPISC describes a defense policy that pays its portion of litigation expenses and, if selected, damages for specified rights and scheduled products. CFC's application also separates patent defense from other IP defense selections. These offerings illustrate available structures and are not standard terms across the market.
Ask which rights are covered, whether the form addresses patents, trademarks, copyrights, or trade secrets, and exactly which products or works are scheduled. Confirm whether it covers attorney fees, experts, appeals, settlements, or damages, and whether costs reduce the limit. Review the insurer's role in choosing counsel, consent requirements, retention, territory, and prior-knowledge wording. If you need to sue an alleged infringer, request enforcement terms separately; a defense grant does not necessarily fund that action.
Related Coverage
Providers That List This Coverage
Sources
- Intellectual property insurance. CFC; Opening; Defense; Pursuit of infringers; Contractual indemnity; US-facing product offering. Accessed 2026-09-25.
- Intellectual Property Insurance application form — US. CFC Underwriting Limited; Sections 1–2 pp.1–2; Section 3 pp.3–4; Section 4 p.4; Section 6.1 p.5; Section 6.2 p.6. Accessed 2026-09-25.
- IP Infringement Insurance Application. Intellectual Property Insurance Services Corporation; p.1 specimen request; Section 1 pp.2–4; Defense Section 2 pp.5–6; Enforcement Section 3 pp.7–9. Accessed 2026-09-25.
