We’re excited to announce that Rich Pawelczyk’s new article, A Quick Guide to Music-IP Pitfalls, was just published in the American Bar Association’s Entertainment & Sports Lawyer journal. You can also read the article on our website.
Rich breaks down the legal issues that too many artists don’t spot until it’s too late. From unclear contracts to AI-generated music, the article tackles one core problem: law moves slower than technology so creators need legal clarity up front, before they sign, share, or stream.
What You Can Use Today
Whether you're in a band, managing artists, or licensing content, these are real traps people fall into every day:
- Two copyrights, two paydays: There’s the sound recording, and there’s the underlying composition. Owning one doesn’t mean you own both, and each pays differently.
- Band names need trademark protection: Copyright doesn’t protect your group name. If you’re building a brand, think like a business.
- The “fine print” defines your future: Clauses around term length, royalty definitions, and rights granted can change the entire deal, even if the headline terms look good.
- Credits split bands: You wrote the hook, they mixed the beat—so who gets what? Decide early, write it down, and avoid painful fights later.
- AI makes it messier: Can someone legally copy your vocal style? If AI writes a beat in your signature sound, who owns it? Courts don’t fully agree yet.
Want the Full Breakdown?
In the full ABA article, Rich walks through real contract traps, how royalties actually flow, what “options” mean, and why AI raises questions we’ve never had to answer before. It’s written for legal pros, but easy enough for managers, producers, and creators to follow.
If you're working in music, you’ll find insights that could save you headaches (or lawsuits) down the line.
About Rich Pawelczyk
Rich is an attorney at Horn Wright, LLP, where he advises musicians, producers, startups, and entertainment professionals on the legal issues that hit hardest when deals go wrong: IP rights, contracts, credits, and content disputes. He’s handled matters for indie artists and digital platforms alike, helping creative professionals protect what they’ve built and get paid fairly for it.
Whether you're signing your first sync deal or reviewing a distribution contract, Rich knows where things tend to break and how to keep your rights intact.