GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

How often have you heard the phrase intellectual property? Any creation that stems from one's mind or intellect is called intellectual property. It can take any form, starting from a painting, a design, an invention, or a tune. There is no set category for intellectual property.

An intellectual property, more commonly known as IP, is the foundation of a new creation. It is imperative to protect your IP to avoid fraudulent use or reproduction. There are many ways in which one can ensure that their ideas are not plagiarised or used without proper consent. Patents, copyrights, and trademarks are a few ways to protect IP.

Did you know that there exists an insurance for intellectual property? This article will shed light on intellectual property insurance and everything you need to know about it.

Let's understand what intellectual property insurance is:

Intellectual property insurance helps companies or individuals to cover the cost of litigation and court trials in case of being accused of IP violation. It also covers those who want to sue a company with an IP violation lawsuit. With the growing number of startups, IP has become a valuable asset. It is the foundation of a company's ethics, and a solid IP can help it reach new heights.

The increasing competition and the need to leave a mark in the venture capital market have led to various fraudulent cases of IP infringement. Since IP is one of the most valuable assets in recent times, the cost of IP litigation is expensive. Intellectual property insurance is a must to cover the cost of the exorbitant court proceedings.

Types of IP insurance:

Let's take a look at the kinds of IP insurance available –

1. Infringement defence:
This policy is for those who need to be safeguarded against a party who claims IP infringement against them. This defensive insurance policy acts as a safety net for companies that are held accountable for infringing patents, trademarks, or copyrights. Since the litigation costs for these cases can be very high, the policyholder need not worry about the costs. The policy provider is bound to make payments for all litigation expenses, settlement amounts, and other damages.

2. Abatement enforcement coverage:
This policy is for those IP holders who need assistance and resources to enforce their IP rights and claim infringement against others. This enforcement coverage enables the company to proceed with the legal proceedings without worrying about the legal fees. This policy also ensures that any damage is paid in full to the policyholder if the opposing party decides to counter-sue.

Big and small companies have claimed that the biggest challenge they face at the beginning of a new product launch is intellectual property risk. Various trade secrets, product building, and marketing strategies fall under intellectual property. IP insurance cover will protect your product in the market and help evade baseless lawsuits.

Intellectual property insurance offers a wide range of covers, including but not limited to infringement liability, contractual liability, enforcement, intellectual property rights protection, and other disputes. Add covers, and customise your insurance needs depending on the company or product you intend to launch in the market.

Over the years, we have seen various technological advancements bloom, with start-ups shaping the country's future. Putting in years of hard work only to realise that your work or idea has been copied by someone else can be one of the most frustrating and painful experiences. To avoid such situations for yourself and your company, do not forget to buy general insurance online. As discussed above, these insurances will significantly help anyone looking to claim or deny an infringement. All one needs to do is in-depth research on the insurance category to invest and look out for the best available options. Hard work has no substitute, and so does security.

Click HERE to buy general insurance online.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Technology has taken the world by storm, and new inventions and innovations every day are seamlessly becoming part of our daily lives. In this article, we will talk about the emerging technology trend of insurtech in the world of insurance and understand how it will change insurance in the coming times.

What is insurtech?
Insurtech is a combination of the terms insurance and technology. This term was coined to define the culmination of digitalisation, technology, and insurance. Insurtech is the modern-day solution to all insurance-related qualms and queries. Applying novel technology trends such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and extensive data analysis has helped insurance make advancements in leaps.

What are the benefits of insurtech?
The benefits of technology have been countless over the years. Combine that with insurance, and you have diverse opportunities in the insurance sector. Not only has the involvement of technology made it a more straightforward and less cumbersome process for the policy provider, but it also has made buying insurance a quick and easy task for the consumer.
Technology intervention has aided the insurance provider in calculating the overall credibility of the customer. The mammoth task of manually analysing and decision-making by policy providers has taken a back seat as technology like machine learning has made the process faster and more accurate.

Insurance companies can now target a wider audience and cater to their specific needs while sitting miles away with the help of technology. Factors such as customer acquisition and onboarding, global expansion of business, and enhancing the user experiences help companies draw more happy customers. It also has allowed insurance companies to handle and process claims efficiently.

When it comes to the customers, what better than sitting in the comfort of your home and buying online general insurance? Thanks to AI, insurance prices are tailor-made per the customer's needs. This gives a chance for companies to ditch their standard pricing methodology and stick to a more dynamic cost analysis.

What are the components of insurtech?

Insurtech has a variety of components, but it can be broadly divided into two components –

1. Technology-based:
● Artificial Intelligence: The process of automation to yield better and more accurate results.
● Machine Learning: The collection, collation, and analysis of vast chunks of data to determine a pattern.
● Internet of Things: Objects with sensors or processing abilities that can aid in risk assessment.
● Apps: For a better customer relationship experience.
● Blockchain: To improve security and protect sensitive information.

2. Solutions based:
● Appetite Solutions: Helps to find the best policy for a client across existing policies in the market.
● Data Solutions: Easy access to personal actionable data for respective users.
● Payment Solutions: Digitised payment solutions help for a better customer experience.
● Quoting solutions: Automated quote generation, thus reducing the waiting time for customers and policy providers.

What are the applications of insurtech?

1. Customer verification:
The KYC or "know your customer" is a process that all insurance companies must follow. A huge amount of data needs to be processed to ensure the legitimacy of the customer. Insurtech has made the process hassle-free by storing data directly from the issuing authority.

2. Claim management:
With automated analysis of claim documents, standardised records evaluation is maintained and later verified by agents or policymakers.

3. Detecting fraud:
Insurtech can verify policyholders' claims and crosscheck any duplicate transaction or third-party interference to ensure that no fraudulent claims are made.

These were a list of some key elements of insurtech. As mentioned above, technology is a boon to customers and policymakers alike and can benefit both parties. Customers can also use general insurance plans to safeguard their assets with the best coverage. Checking out online general insurance plans can be a smart way to explore various options and select the ones with more advantages, good premiums, and the ones that will give the best returns on your investment.

Click HERE to know more about online general insurance.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

The penalties for traffic defaulters have increased steeply with the passage of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill in the year 2019 in India. For instance, the fine for driving without a licence has been increased from INR 500 to INR 5000. Similarly, the penalty for over-speeding has increased from INR 400 to INR 2000.

Also, the police have been extra vigilant, and as a result, the issuance of traffic challans has significantly increased in the last couple of years. Do you wish to stay protected and avoid draining your hard-earned money by paying for hefty traffic challans due to over-speeding your vehicle? Let us see how you can achieve this and prevent over-speeding.

1. Be mindful of the speed limit:
Although fast driving seems thrilling to some people, driving over the speed limit has grave consequences. The speed limit has been put in place by city traffic police with many factors in mind, including the friction of the surface of the road and whether it has schools or hospitals nearby. Be careful and pay attention to board signages alongside the roads. Ensure to drive your vehicle within the speed limit as per the signage on the respective road.
Over-speeding might not only affect your life but also put the lives of others at risk. According to a report by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in 2020, 71% of accidents were related to over-speeding on Indian roads, resulting in 66% of fatalities. Pay close attention to signboards when driving, or you might incur a fine of up to INR 4000.

2. Yellow lights mean slow down:
Everyone is in a hurry to reach their destination. Although jumping a light might seem like a minor offense at any given moment, it causes severe accidents in India. To deter the public from jumping a red light, fines have been levied that range up to INR 5000, and the driver can even be sent away up to a one-year prison sentence for this offense with the suspension of their driving licence.
To avoid such consequences, be prepared to stop right when the yellow light comes on, and stop a few metres before the stop line. Try not to block the zebra crossing and create inconvenience to the pedestrians.

3. Speed camera alert applications:
You will be surprised to know that there exist applications that can alert us of upcoming speed cameras from a few hundred metres in advance. Moreover, most of these applications are free and convenient to operate.
However, use these devices as a reminder that you are over-speeding your vehicle, not as an escape from speed cameras. Make a habit of following the speed limit set by the traffic police.

4. Never drink and drive:
Often drinking provokes you to do things you don't usually do when sober. And, one very common concern among drivers is rash & fast driving. Driving under the influence of alcohol is a punishable offense in India, and you will get a hefty traffic challan for drunken driving and over-speeding when intoxicated. Moreover, it can lead to serious accidents and cause property loss and lives.
Hence, do not drive when you have consumed alcohol or are heading out for a party. Book a cab to get back home if you are drunk, even if you came in your car. Otherwise, ensure that a non-drinking friend takes the wheel for you.

Another important thing is never to run away or escape the spot if a police officer finds you guilty of violating a rule and stops you. Always accept that you’ve made a mistake and support the officials doing their work.

You should always follow the above steps to avoid getting traffic challans and paying fines. Receiving challans is not a good feeling, and repeated mistakes can make you face severe consequences. So, be a responsible driver and ensure the above traffic practices that help you avoid getting fined due to over-speeding. In addition, car insurance online India can protect your car with adequate coverage against any possible damage due to an accident.

Click HERE to buy car insurance online India and stay protected while driving.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Honking while driving on the road is a serious topic and a primary source of noise pollution. Persistent noise from honking can lead to stress, annoyance, depression, and hearing impairment. It also causes road accidents due to sudden distractions. If you are wondering why people honk so much, you should understand the psychology behind it.

Reasons why people honk their horns so much.

Generally, it would be best to use a horn to avoid collisions, when necessary. However, drivers also honk for other reasons, such as

1. Honking by habit:
Most Indian drivers honk just because they feel like it, even if it is unnecessary. You may find honkers honking at turns, at blind corners, and at pedestrians walking or crossing the roads. Drivers also honk recklessly during a traffic jam to move the traffic. In this behaviour, the driver needs to show more awareness and patience.

2. Honking as a way to communicate:
In India, drivers use horn honking to communicate without words with other drivers on the road. Drivers use several horn-honking patterns, each with a different meaning. For instance, drivers use single honking when waiting outside their friend's house or when someone is in front of their vehicle, which means "I'm here".
The double horn means, "please don't be dumb", and the triple horn means, "I am upset that traffic has not moved". Some aggressive drivers use the repeater triple horn to tell other drivers that they are more important and ask them to get out of their way.
Another form of aggressive horn honking used by large vehicles is the big blast, meaning "I can do whatever I want because I am mighty".

3. Continuously honking at high speeds:
You may have seen a reckless driver going forward and constantly honking, leaving everyone behind. Such drivers are always in a hurry to arrive on time for work, meetings, or other events. However, irresponsible driving habits are dangerous and can cause more havoc on traffic.
You should avoid driving in a hurry or using a horn unnecessarily. While talking about safety, buying online motor insurance is essential to protect your vehicle from damages.

How to reduce unnecessary honking while driving:

● Most people need to learn the severity of unnecessary honking and its disadvantages. You should spread awareness about honking and noise pollution to your friends, family, and neighbours.

● Take driving lessons from renowned driving schools to learn the basics of honking etiquette, like avoiding honking at no-honking zones, near hospitals, schools, forest areas, etc.

● Unnecessary honking can also lead you to pay a ticket (challan). You should learn about when and where you should not honk.

● The government should impose strict laws against unnecessary honking and a maximum dB limit for large vehicles.

There are many reasons why drivers and riders like to honk so much. If you are like most drivers in India, you should learn the reasons behind drivers honking their horns and ways to reduce them. Once you understand the basics of honking etiquette, you should tell others to spread awareness.

In addition to honking etiquette, it is also essential for drivers to have motor insurance to protect them from fines and damage costs in the future. You can get online motor insurance quickly with minimum documentation and without the hassle of physically visiting the insurance company's office or paying a commission to an agent.

Click HERE to buy new car insurance.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.