Indemnity

Definição

An indemnity is an undertaking by one party to bear or reimburse defined losses suffered by the other, often arising from third-party claims such as IP infringement or data breaches. Unlike ordinary damages, an indemnity can shift risk directly and may cover losses that would not otherwise be recoverable under general damages rules. Dutch law has no dedicated indemnity statute, so the scope is governed by what the parties expressly agree, read against reasonableness and fairness.

Exemplo

A software vendor indemnifies its customer against claims that the licensed product infringes a third party's patent.

Porque é um risco para a empresa

An indemnity can be one of the most financially significant clauses in a contract, yet it is often buried in boilerplate. If scope is unclear, a dispute about whether a loss is covered can cost more than the loss itself. Businesses that grant overly broad indemnities, or fail to cap them, can face open-ended exposure from third-party claims they never anticipated.

Como gerir

• Define the covered events precisely: vague language such as "any claim" creates much wider exposure than intended.
• Always cap the indemnity (or link it to your liability cap) so potential exposure is known and insurable.
• Require the indemnified party to notify you promptly and let you control the defence of any third-party claim.
• Check whether your professional indemnity or product-liability insurance covers the indemnity you are giving.

Referências jurídicas

• BW 6:74 Dutch Civil Code: liability for damages Direito neerlandês

Salvo indicação em contrário, as referências remetem para o direito neerlandês (Burgerlijk Wetboek, o Código Civil neerlandês); os instrumentos da UE, como o RGPD, aplicam-se em toda a UE. Esta é informação geral, não constitui aconselhamento jurídico. Outras jurisdições tratam estes conceitos de forma diferente. Verifique o texto em vigor e a sua situação com um advogado qualificado.