Volune Financial Services
Volune Financial Services is a South African insurance administration and technology solutions provider specialising in Global Intellectual Property insurance, Portfolio administration, Underwriting support, Claims management and Broker enablement.
Established in 2014, Volune's primary objective is to connect international insurers, insurance brokers and policyholders through technology-driven solutions, specialist expertise and efficient insurance administration.
Volune enables insurance brokers to focus on acquiring clients, providing professional advice and growing their businesses, while Volune supports the operational, administrative and technical requirements of managing Intellectual Property insurance portfolios.
ELITE BROKER ACCESS · WORLDWIDE IP PROTECTION IN GBP & USD
Offer your clients IP cover that protects them worldwide, not just in South Africa.
Volune gives insurance brokers access to Africa's first IP insurance offering, with global cover written in GBP and US dollars. Our in-house IP attorneys, technology transfer consultants, commercialisation experts and IP risk managers do the technical work. You sell.
For brokers
The Broker Opportunity
Earn commission on a new product line
Brokers receive commission on IP policies placed, as set out in the broker agreement.Â
A product few competitors can offer
Global IP cover in GBP and USD sets you apart from brokers offering only local cover.
No product expertise required
Our specialists assess the risk, explain the cover and support the client.
Open new conversations
Approach tech, media, research and licensing clients, especially those that export, license abroad or contract with international partners.
Keep the client relationship
You remain the client's broker. We work behind you.
Our Speciality: Global Cover in GBP and US Dollars
Worldwide protection.
Cover applies to IP exposures globally, not only claims brought in South Africa, subject to the policy terms.
Hard-currency cover.
Limits and claims are in GBP and US dollars, the currencies in which international licences, sponsorships and technology contracts are usually priced.
Meets international contract requirements.
Foreign licensors, partners and clients often require insurance in a specific currency and jurisdiction. Our cover is designed to meet them.
Protection against rand weakness.
A claim abroad is covered in the currency in which it arises, so your client is not exposed to exchange-rate swings.
The Specialists Behind You
Our team handles the technical side.
IP Attorneys
RSA IP Lawfirms that are part of our Panel of Attorneys
Technology Transfer Consultants
Support clients who license or commercialise research and innovation internationally.
Commercialisation Specialists
Help clients turn IP into revenue and understand the value at risk.
IP Risk Managers
Assess the client's global IP exposure and recommend the right cover.
Bring us the lead. We join the conversation, do the assessment and prepare the recommendation.
01
Intellectual Property Cover
For start-ups, SMMEs and large businesses.
Start-ups and SMMEs are disproportionately exposed to threats against their IP, because one dispute can threaten the whole business. Larger businesses face the same risks on a bigger scale, with more IP assets, more licences and more exposure across borders. We have designed a comprehensive, easy-to-understand policy for businesses of every size, so your clients can protect their most valuable assets and keep trading with confidence.
Why brokers like it:
- One clear product to explain to start-ups, SMMEs and large businesses.
- Global cover in GBP and USD, not just South Africa.
- Our IP attorneys and IP risk managers handle the technical assessment, so you focus on selling.
Key features:
- Patent and IP infringement liability. Cover for the costs and liabilities that arise when a business is accused of infringing someone else's patent or other IP rights.
- Invalidation challenges. Support with the costs of defending the business's IP rights when a third party tries to have them declared invalid.
- Trademark oppositions. Cover for the costs of opposing or defending trademark applications and registrations that put the client's brand at risk.
- Patent title disputes. Cover for the costs of resolving disputes over who owns or holds title to a patent.
- Loss of IP right and future profit. Protection against the financial loss that follows if the business loses an IP right, including the future profit that right would have generated.
Five Global Products Your Clients Need
Each product is subject to underwriting and to the terms of the policy issued. Cover is global and written in GBP and USD.
02
Licensing Agreement Liability
For licensees and licensors under IP licence agreements, including sponsorship, brand collaboration, endorsement, naming rights and IP transfer contracts.
- Cover for unintentional breach of the licence agreement, so licensees can meet the insurance requirement most licence agreements contain.
- IP infringement claims from the licensor or a third party, including where a third party caused the breach.
- Reimbursement of PR consultant costs to limit reputational damage, subject to Volune's approval.
- Court attendance costs and retroactive cover from the licence start date.
- Policy periods of up to 18 months, with an optional 7-year extended reporting period for multi-year contracts.
- Typically declined: public domain or out-of-copyright assets, unclear chains of title, IP with prior litigation, and designs or patents (which may fall under the R&D product).
03
Technology IP and Products Liability
For software, hardware, advisory and technology companies that hold client data, provide products and services, or license technology.
- IP infringement allegations, including copyright and trademark.
- Products and services liability for financial loss, bodily injury or property damage.
- Breach of client contracts, with contract risk management tools at no extra cost.
- Cyber and incident response, including network and privacy liability and cyber-crime such as social engineering, invoice fraud and ransomware.
04
Media IP and Defamation
For media, entertainment, production and events businesses.
- IP infringement and defamation allegations.
- Breach of client contracts, including licence and endorsement deals.
- Contingent bodily injury and property damage from filming, production and events.
- Sub-contractor vicarious liability.
- Cyber cover, including network and privacy liability and cyber-crime.
05
R&D and Patent Defence
For life science and technology developers, research organisations, contract researchers, clinical trial service providers and their suppliers.
- Patent defence costs for patent owners and service providers.
- Financial loss from unintentional breach of contract or negligent acts or omissions.
- Products and general liability for research materials, products or premises.
- No-fault clinical trials compensation under local statutory guidelines.
- Cyber and privacy cover.
- Worldwide jurisdiction as standard.