Joys of going Indie, Arrrgg!

Hi just trying to setup as an indipendant games developer in the UK and having bother getting the business insured, e.g. will need public liability and if I'm going to do freelance contract or bespoke software development will need professional inndemnity as well.

Only as soon as you mention games development and downloadable content the insurers run to their underwriters and then drop you like a hot potatoe.

So the question is have you setup in the UK and if so where do you go to get insurance or do you know an insurer that will cover games developers?

I thought the standard UELA thing covered this that every one sends out with they're games. You're not writing business software are you so what's the potential problems?

The business side of things is all new to me and I'm setting up via a training program run by a local business initiative centre, trouble is they are more into less technical businesses and have recommended that I get insurance before I start trading, I think the UELA should help however as I will be running a buisness technically I should be insured at least against Public Liability e.g. to cover me from getting sued in our where there's a 'possiblity of money sue' culture!

Go figure!

I don't think that any insurance company on this planet would give a business(!) an insurance against lawsuits. If you have serious money, you can try the famous Lloyds in London, though.

But honestly: Businesses get sued all the time, its part of the normal life and suing is also a very normal way of doing business - you better get used to that thought.

What you have to do as a business owner is to put aside some "battle money", that means money to pay your lawyer(s) with when you are sued.

And sooner or later, you WILL be sued: By sue-happy customers, by other businesses who think there might be some money in it for them and who will claim that you stole their intellectual property or violated their patents in one way or the other. Whatever the reason might be: You have a business, and you WILL see a court room from the inside.

You should also make sure to have a trustworthy(!!!) tax counselor.

By the way, it is called "EULA" (End User License Agreement), not UELA. You better make sure that you have one that will hold up in a court of law. The same goes for your "general terms and conditions". Have a lawyer who is specialized in these things check them.

This blog from Wil Shipley, who is quite successful at what he is doing, might help you as a source of motivation and advice:

http://wilshipley.com/blog/2005/07/student-talk-reloaded-podcast.html

You will also find some valuable advice on Paul Graham's website:

http://www.paulgraham.com/articles.html

In general, I would say: Don't worry too much about these things. Make sure that you have sufficient amounts of money saved to be able to cover your business and living costs for at least one year and also make sure that you can afford a lawyer and a tax consultant.

You only really need public liability insurance if customers / members of the public visit you on your premises or you visit them on their premises.

If you are working alone from home then you don't need it.

emailed ya.

Cheers gents I think I've got it sorted now thanks all for the advice and support!

Just copy this EULA:
http://blogs.stopbadware.org/articles/2007/08/08/no-scrolling-necessary