Safeguarding Against Liability Issues: A Guide For Freelance 3D Designers

When you run your own 3D design and printing service, you’re at risk of cybersecurity problems like any other online business. 

Even as a freelancer without an incorporated business, a hack that results in data loss could leave you liable for data privacy fines, business restrictions, and even a court case. 

You need to safeguard yourself from this kind of liability from the get go, no matter how many clients you have or how unlikely it is for your design software (and hardware) to be exploited.

As such, here are a few ways to lower your risk of liability within the freelance 3D design industry.  

Always Have a Contract

With the right clauses, a contract protects you against a variety of issues, including the client deciding they don’t want to pay, or trying to cut their relationship with you suddenly and without reason. 

If you have a contract in place, not only do you have legal grounds to go after compensation for any work delivered, but you also can state termination terms that don’t leave you suddenly out of pocket. 

But that’s not the only thing a contract protects you from. You can also outline your own liability and/or involvement in case of your client running into copyright or data privacy issues. 

Lock Down Your Workspace

It’s not just digital threats that you need to be watchful for. Whether you work out of your home or have a separate studio, you need to be sure no one gets inside without you knowing about it. 

In much the same way any other business needs to maintain a bird’s eye view over their premises, your own design space should have a camera set up over the front door. 

It’s the most crucial access point, and if you’re on a budget, it’s the main area to place any access control devices you can invest in. Physical security measures like a doorbell camera and/or an entryway keypad are good choices here. 

Not only will this make your workspace more secure overall, but it proves you act in a client’s best interest wherever possible. 

Indeed, these measures give you more capability in proving you took every reasonable measure possible against physical intrusion, relative to the size and profit of the business you run. 

Get Insured

3D designers often need liability insurance, and there are two types to be aware of.

The first protects 3D designers in case of something going wrong with a 3D product itself, and the second protects them if a design error is found by a client after they’ve suffered a loss of profit. 

Product liability insurance protects against the former, while professional liability insurance covers the latter. 

Professional liability is more likely to be suitable for a freelance 3D designer, as this ensures you don’t lose out entirely if a client decides your design is a problem.

Liability issues can crop up when you least expect them. Protect your freelancing income with the tips above.