Liability Insurance for Blogging?

My insurance broker told me yesterday that my blog is covered by my homeowner’s policy, but he asked me not to present this as an across-the-board fact. Each case like mine would have to be handled on an individual basis.

I had to work hard to arrive at that definitive “yes.” First I asked Google by email about our business liability as Ad Sense Participants. Here’s what I got back:

“Google does not give out legal advice and if you would like to get an answer to your question, I recommend that you contact an attorney who specializes in this field.”

My attorney said that, as far as he knew, I would not. He’d never heard of a blogger being sued. The key phrase, “as far as he knew”, meant that I had to keep looking for a definitive answer.

Conducting Google searches for blog liability insurance, I came across someone else asking the same question about corporate blog liability.

Suzanna Gardner, author of “Buzz Marketing with Blogs for Dummies, wrote:

Subject: Liability Insurance for Blogging?

“I spoke with a reporter today whose editor has asked for a story on liability insurance for corporate blogs—what companies offer it, what companies are buying it, and what it covers.

It’s a fascinating question—and one I haven’t been asked before (I love those). Unfortunately, it’s the first time it’s come up, at least for me, so I’m looking for anyone out there who has maybe thought about, looked at, or heard anything about blog liability insurance. The article could go a couple of directions, but certainly the obvious questions are, do you need liability insurance for a corporate blog, and do you need coverage when you encourage your employees to blog about their work experiences. So how about it, folks? Anyone know anything about blog liability insurance? You’ll likely get quoted for the article if you do!”

Posted by Susannah Gardner on 11/08 at 07:30 PM • Blogs and Business -- Law and Ethics.

Gardner welcomes any information and insight you might have. Log on to: Susannah Gardner's Website


When I first asked my insurance broker if he ever issued business liability policies to bloggers, he said he had not. After he hung up, he asked the company that issues my homeowner’s policy for a crash course on blogging. Then he asked for a crash course from me. When I described this blog site to him, he took extensive notes. Then he examined my site, along with the ads, until he got the gist of its intent.

The insurance company also looked at my blog, and from there the rep decided that, yes, my homeowner’s policy would cover my site at no additional charge. My broker said that when my blog earned $600.00 or more per year, I might need additional coverage.

So far, my site has earned a grand total of $2.33.