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Entertainment & Intellectual Property Law · New York

Protecting
what you
create.

A boutique New York law practice for artists, musicians, producers, filmmakers, writers, and entrepreneurs who need an attorney who understands both the law and the industry.

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Industry Background
Sony Music Entertainment ICM Partners Sony BMG Seton Hall · J.D. IP & Entertainment Law New York Bar
What I Do

Practice Areas

Creative careers are built on agreements that most people never fully read. I make sure yours work in your favor — from the first deal to the catalog you've spent years building.

01
Entertainment Law

From record deals to film options, I represent creative professionals at every stage — making sure the business side of your career works as hard as you do.

02
Intellectual Property

Your music, your scripts, your brand — they're assets worth protecting. I handle copyright registration, trademark filings, and IP strategy built around what you create.

03
Contracts & Licensing

Every deal starts with language someone wrote to protect their interests. I make sure yours protects yours — reviewing, negotiating, and drafting agreements that hold up.

John W. Rybicki
People Hire Lawyers, Not Firms

John W. Rybicki

"Before I practiced law, I worked inside it — at Sony Music, at ICM. I know how the industry operates from both sides of the table."

John W. Rybicki is a New York-based entertainment and intellectual property attorney representing artists, musicians, producers, filmmakers, writers, and entrepreneurs navigating the business of creativity. Before founding his practice, John built his career from the inside — working in contract administration at Sony BMG, as an agent assistant at International Creative Management (ICM), and in contract management at Sony Music Entertainment.

He earned his J.D. with a concentration in Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law from Seton Hall University School of Law. His practice sits at the intersection of IP and business transactional law, with deep specialization in music, entertainment, and media.

J.D., IP & Entertainment Law — Seton Hall University School of Law
Former Contract Manager, Sony Music Entertainment
Former Agent Assistant, International Creative Management (ICM)
Admitted to Practice, New York State Bar
How I Work

My Approach

A boutique practice means you work directly with me — not a paralegal, not a junior associate. Every matter gets the attention it deserves.

The law is a tool. My job is to make sure it works for you.

Having worked inside Sony Music and ICM before practicing law, I've always understood that contracts aren't just documents — they're the architecture of a creative career. The rights you keep or give away today determine what you can build tomorrow.

"I read contracts the way the other side does — looking for what's missing as much as what's there."

My practice is intentionally boutique. You work directly with me, and I stay close enough to your work to give counsel that's actually relevant to where you are and where you're headed.

Whether you're signing your first deal, protecting a catalog you've spent years building, or launching a new project that needs a strong legal foundation — I bring the same thing every time: someone who understands both the law and the business you're operating in.

"

I was truly impressed by his mediation and negotiation skills. John brings a level of industry understanding that you simply don't find in most attorneys.

Former Client · Seton Hall University
Thought Leadership

Latest Insights

All articles →
Music Law
What Independent Artists Get Wrong When Signing Their First Record Deal

Most first-time artists focus on the advance. The terms that define your career — ownership, creative control, reversion rights — are buried in the language most people skip.

John W. Rybicki · December 2024 · 8 min read
IP Law
Copyright vs. Trademark: Why Creatives Need Both

Protecting your work and protecting your brand are two separate legal strategies. Here's how they work together.

John W. Rybicki · November 2024 · 5 min read
Film & TV
Option Agreements Explained: What Filmmakers Should Know Before Signing

An option isn't a sale. Understanding the difference could be the most important legal education a filmmaker gets.

John W. Rybicki · October 2024 · 6 min read
Get in Touch

Ready to protect
what you've built?

Schedule a consultation and let's talk about where you are, where you're headed, and how the law can help you get there.

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RYBICKI LAW

Entertainment & Intellectual Property Law. New York. Representing creative professionals who build things worth protecting.

Practice Areas
  • Entertainment Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • Contracts & Licensing
  • Music Law
  • Film & Television
The Firm
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Contact
  • New York, NY
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© 2025 Law Office of John W. Rybicki. All rights reserved. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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John W. Rybicki | Attorney at Law

john.rybicki@rybickilaw.com
(917) 664-3258

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