What Insurance Covers Defamation?

Defamation is a claim that a false statement harmed a person’s or organization’s reputation. Standard commercial general liability Coverage B can include certain oral or written publication offenses, and the NAIC-published Journal of Insurance Regulation study discusses defamation in that context. Media liability may also be relevant when publishing, broadcasting, or creating content is part of the insured’s business. Neither policy label guarantees that a particular claim is covered.

The policy’s wording can exclude material published with knowledge of falsity, claims arising from a media or internet business, or publications made before the policy period. A claimant’s requested remedy and whether allegations fall within the defined offense can also matter. Defamation in customer content, an employee communication, marketing copy, or a public review response may be treated differently under particular wording.

Check the definition of personal and advertising injury, the exact publication offense, media-business and prior-publication exclusions, territory, and defense provisions. If your company regularly publishes content, compare the CGL form with media liability wording and confirm the policy’s claims-made or occurrence trigger.