Personal and Advertising Injury
What Is Personal and Advertising Injury Insurance?
Personal and advertising injury coverage protects your business from certain non-physical harms caused by how you act, communicate, publish, or advertise.
This coverage applies to specific offenses such as libel, slander, invasion of privacy, malicious prosecution, and wrongful eviction. It’s also intended to cover types of intellectual property and advertising-related claims. These are harms that don’t involve bodily injury or property damage, but can still lead to lawsuits and significant legal costs.
What Does Personal and Advertising Injury Cover?
Personal and advertising injury is designed to cover damages for non-bodily injury claims.
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| What It Covers | How It Works | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
– Libel |
Making or publishing false statements that harm someone’s reputation
|
Posting a negative social media review claiming a nearby business “scams customers” without proof
|
|
– Copyright infringement |
Using protected content or ad ideas without permission |
Using a stock photo or graphic in an ad without the proper license |
|
– Slogan or trade dress infringement |
Using a confusingly similar slogan or look in advertising |
Designing your logo or packaging to closely resemble a competitor’s branding to “fit in” with the market |
|
– Malicious prosecution |
Wrongfully subjecting someone to legal action |
Threatening or filing legal action against a customer to pressure them during a disagreement |
|
– False arrest |
Unlawfully detaining someone |
Locking the salon doors during business hours to prevent an unpaid customer from leaving |
Coverage varies by policy. Always check your specific policy wording for what’s included or excluded.
Personal and Advertising Injury vs. Bodily Injury vs. Property Damage: What’s the Difference?
Personal and advertising injury covers certain non-physical harms tied to reputation, rights, or occupancy.
Bodily injury covers physical injury or illness.
Property damage covers physical damage to tangible property.
General liability often includes all three categories. However, personal and advertising injury is its own section because the risks come from what you say, publish, or use in ads, not from physical accidents.
What Are Common Examples of Personal and Advertising Injury Claims?
The most common personal and advertising injury claims involve disputes over reputation or intellectual rights.
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| Business Type | Common Risks | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Marketing or design consultant |
– Content |
A former client claims you reused their campaign idea for someone else |
|
Independent hairstylist |
– Social media posts |
You vent on Instagram about a difficult client, and they claim defamation |
|
Online seller |
– Website content |
A competitor says your listing copies their wording or branding |
|
Artist |
– Social media content |
You write a public post criticizing an event you participated in, and the organizer claims it harmed their reputation |
|
Personal trainer |
– Website content |
A competitor says your website misrepresents their services or results |
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