CR 04 14–UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE BY EMPLOYEES

(February 2026)

INTRODUCTION

This endorsement covers the fines and penalties of the named insured resulting directly from employees reproducing computer software without permission. Coverage is only applicable if the action breaches a licensing agreement with a third-party vendor. The reproduction must occur without the knowledge of the named insured, a designated person, or anyone responsible for ensuring compliance with software licensing terms.

This analysis is of the 06 22 edition. Changes are highlighted in bold. It does not cover format changes that do not affect coverage.

ELIGIBILITY

This endorsement can be added to the Insurance Services Office (ISO) Commercial Crime or Government Crime Coverage Forms or Policies.

ANALYSIS

This is an endorsement to the ISO Commercial Crime or Government Crime Coverage Forms and Policies and is subject to their conditions, definitions, and exclusions. The only changes are those within this endorsement.

INSURING AGREEMENT

The following is added to Insuring Agreements A:

Unauthorized Reproduction of Computer Software by Employees:

This insuring agreement covers the financial repercussions of fines and penalties the insured incurs if an employee reproduces third-party software without authorization, and without the knowledge of the insured, a designated person, or anyone responsible for ensuring compliance with the software licensing terms.

No coverage is available if the party responsible for compliance or anyone aware of employees reproducing the software knows about the violation. The insured must also be legally liable for the loss.

Example: Out of this World Software Applications is a software development company. A representative from Out of this World provides a copy of its research software to one of the Smith Management managers for review.

The manager then passes it to the system administrator for her feedback. The administrator not only reviews it but also likes it so much that she installs it on Smith Management’s network without informing the manager. The manager does not proceed with the purchase and returns the copy to the representative.

A year later, Out of this World discovers that its software had been installed on Smith Management’s network. The company sues Smith Management for the software’s cost ($695) multiplied by the number of potential users (359 employees), amounting to $249,505. This loss is covered because Out of this World’s policy includes Form CR 04 14.

LIMIT OF INSURANCE

The Limit of Insurance stated on the Declarations is the maximum amount the insurance company will pay for a loss occurrence.

DEDUCTIBLE

A loss must exceed the deductible shown in the Declarations before any payment will be made, and then only up to the Limit of Insurance.

COMMERCIAL CRIME FORM AND POLICY

EXCLUSIONS

Applicable to All InsuringAgreements: 

The following exclusion is replaced by this endorsement:  

·         Acts Committed by Your Employees, ERISA Plan Officials, Managers, Directors, Trustees, or Representatives:  

Loss resulting from theft, fraud, or dishonesty, regardless if acting alone or with others, or while performing services for the insured.  

However, this exclusion does not apply when a loss is covered under one or more of the following Insuring Agreements: 

o    A.1.a – Fidelity Employee Theft  

o    A.1.b. – ERISA Plan Official Dishonesty  

o   A.1.c. – Employee Theft of Clients’ Property

o   This insuring agreement. 

Additional Exclusions Applicable to Specific Insuring Agreements:

The following exclusions are added by this endorsement:   

·         Errors Or Omissions in Design of Computer Programs  

Loss that results from the design of a computer program.  

·         Errors or Omissions in Programming  

Loss that results from any processing or programming of electronic data.  

CONDITIONS

Applicable to All InsuringAgreements:  

The following exclusion is replaced by this endorsement:  

·         Duties In The Event Of Loss

The Insured must notify local law enforcement if it is believed a loss involves a violation of the law. 

However, this condition does not apply when a loss is covered under one or more of the following Insuring Agreements:  

o   A.1.a – Fidelity Employee Theft  

o   A.1.b. – ERISA Plan Official Dishonesty  

o   A.1.c. – Employee Theft of Clients’ Property  

o   A.2. –Forgery or Alteration 

o   This insuring agreement.

Applicable to the Valuation – Settlement Condition:  

This endorsement adds the following conditions under this provision: 

·         Electronic Data  

If there is loss of or damage to electronic data, the insurance company will cover reasonable costs to restore or replace it. This includes data entry and consultative services. If the data cannot be recovered or replaced, the cost to replace the storage media where the data was stored is also covered. 

However, there is no coverage for the cost of reproducing the research that created the insured’s electronic data. 

·         Computer Programs   

If there is loss or damage to computer programs, the insurance company will cover the reasonable cost of replacement or restoration. This includes reprogramming and consultative services. However, there is no coverage for the cost of reproducing the research that created the insured’s computer programs.

DEFINITIONS

The following is added to the definition of occurrence:

·         a single act or event

·         the sum of multiple acts

·         a sequence of acts or events

These acts or events can be committed by an employee or another individual. They do not have to be related, although they can be. They may be committed alone or in collusion with others. The occurrence must happen before, during, or both within the Policy Period indicated on the Declarations. 

GOVERNMENT CRIME FORM AND POLICY

A Government Crime section is now included in the 06 22 edition of this endorsement. It provides the same coverage as the Crime Form and Policy above, but the main differences lie in the entities to which the exclusions apply and the relevant Insuring Agreements.  

EXCLUSIONS

Applicable to All Insuring Agreements: 

The following exclusion is replaced by this endorsement: 

·         Acts Committed by Your Employees, Officials or Representatives: 

Loss resulting from theft, fraud, or dishonesty, regardless if acting alone or with others, or while performing services for the insured. 

However, this exclusion does not apply when the loss is covered under one or more of the following Insuring Agreements:

o   A.1.a – Employee Theft – Per Loss Coverage

o   A.1.b. – Employee Theft – Per Employee Coverage

o   This insuring agreement. 

Additional Exclusions Applicable to Specific Insuring Agreements: 

The following exclusions are added by this endorsement:  

·         Errors Or Omissions in Design of Computer Programs 

Loss that results from the design of a computer program. 

·         Errors or Omissions in Programming 

Loss that results from any processing or programming of electronic data. 

CONDITIONS 

Applicable to All Insuring Agreements: 

The following condition is replaced by this endorsement:

·         Duties In The Event Of Loss 

The Named Insured must notify local law enforcement if it is believed a loss involves a violation of the law.

However, this condition does not apply when a loss is covered under one or more of the following Insurance Agreements: 

o   A.1.a – Employee Theft – Per Loss Coverage

o   A.1.b. – Employee Theft – Per Employee Coverage

o   A.2. – Forgery or Alteration

o   This Insuring Agreement.

Applicable to the Valuation – Settlement Condition: 

The following conditions are added by this endorsement:

·         Electronic Data 

If there is loss of or damage to electronic data, the insurance company will cover reasonable costs to restore or replace it. This includes data entry and consultative services. If the data cannot be recovered or replaced, the cost to replace the storage media where the data was stored is also covered.

However, there is no coverage for the cost of reproducing the research that created the insured’s electronic data.

·         Computer Programs  

If there is loss or damage to computer programs, the insurance company will cover the reasonable cost of replacement or restoration. This includes reprogramming and consultative services.

However, there is no coverage for the cost of reproducing the research that created the insured’s computer programs.

DEFINITIONS

The following is added to the definition of Occurrence:

·         a single act or event

·         the sum of multiple acts

·         a sequence of acts or events

These acts or events can be committed by an employee or another individual. They do not have to be related, although they can be. They may be committed alone or in collusion with others. The occurrence must happen before, during, or both within the Policy Period indicated on the Declarations.