NYC Publishing & Media Attorney

Publishing & Media Law in New York City

New York City is the center of American publishing and media. Major publishing houses, independent presses, digital media companies, podcast networks, and content platforms are headquartered here, and the deals that shape the publishing industry are negotiated in this market. Whether you are an author evaluating a book deal, a publisher structuring digital distribution agreements, or a media company licensing content across platforms, the contracts underlying these relationships determine who owns the work, how it is distributed, and who gets paid.

At Agarunov Law Firm, P.C., we represent authors, publishers, media companies, and content creators in the transactional aspects of publishing and media law. We negotiate and draft the agreements that govern how content is created, licensed, distributed, and monetized — from traditional book publishing through digital content, podcasts, and cross-media adaptations.

Book Publishing Agreements

Author Representation

Publishing agreements are complex contracts that control your work for years or decades. We review and negotiate book deals on behalf of authors, focusing on the terms that matter most: advance and royalty structures, rights granted (print, e-book, audio, foreign, translation, film/TV option), territory and term limitations, reversion rights and out-of-print provisions, subsidiary rights splits, non-compete and next-book clauses, and creative control provisions including cover approval and editorial input. We work alongside your literary agent or directly with publishers to ensure you retain appropriate rights and receive fair compensation.

Publisher Representation

For publishing companies — from independent presses to digital-first publishers — we draft and negotiate author agreements, co-publishing arrangements, and distribution deals. We structure agreements that secure the rights the publisher needs while maintaining clear terms on royalty accounting, rights reversion triggers, and subsidiary rights administration.

Ghostwriting & Collaboration Agreements

Ghostwriting, co-authoring, and collaboration arrangements require carefully drafted agreements that define authorship credit (or the lack of it), compensation structure (flat fee, royalty participation, or hybrid), intellectual property ownership, confidentiality obligations, and the ghostwriter's right to use the work as a portfolio sample. We draft agreements that protect both the commissioning party and the writer.

Digital Content & Media Agreements

Content Licensing & Distribution

Content is distributed across more platforms and formats than ever — e-books, audiobooks, streaming platforms, podcasts, apps, newsletters, and social media. Each distribution channel involves licensing agreements with specific terms governing exclusivity, territory, revenue splits, reporting obligations, and termination rights. We negotiate distribution agreements with major platforms and digital distributors, ensuring that creators and publishers retain appropriate control over their content.

Podcast Agreements

The podcast industry has grown into a major media category with its own deal structures. We handle podcast production agreements, host and talent contracts, advertising and sponsorship deals, network and platform distribution agreements, and IP licensing for podcast-to-book and podcast-to-TV adaptations. Whether you are an independent podcaster or a podcast network, we structure agreements that protect your content and brand.

Digital Media Company Counsel

Digital media companies — online publications, content studios, newsletter platforms, and social media businesses — face a range of transactional legal needs including contributor agreements, freelance writer contracts, content licensing, advertising terms, user-generated content policies, and platform terms of service. We serve as outside general counsel for media companies, providing the ongoing legal support that growing media businesses need without the cost of in-house counsel.

Cross-Media Adaptation & Licensing

Successful content increasingly moves across media — books become films, podcasts become TV series, articles become documentaries. These adaptations involve option agreements, life rights purchases, screenplay commissions, and production deals, each with its own structure and negotiation dynamics. We represent both rights holders licensing their content for adaptation and producers acquiring rights for new projects, ensuring fair terms and proper intellectual property protections throughout the process.

Who We Represent

• Authors & Writers: Published and first-time authors negotiating book deals, ghostwriting agreements, and adaptation rights
• Publishers: Independent presses, digital publishers, and publishing startups structuring author and distribution agreements
• Podcasters & Audio Creators: Podcast hosts, networks, and production companies
• Digital Media Companies: Online publications, content studios, and newsletter platforms
• Content Creators: Writers, journalists, and creators licensing content across platforms
• Literary Agents & Agencies: Agencies structuring representation agreements and negotiating deals

Serving New York and New Jersey

Agarunov Law Firm is licensed to practice in both New York and New Jersey. We represent artists, producers, content creators, and entertainment companies throughout the tri-state area including all five NYC boroughs, Long Island, and Northern New Jersey including Bergen County, Hudson County (Jersey City, Hoboken), and Essex County (Newark, Montclair).

New York City is the epicenter of music, media, and entertainment, and our Manhattan office provides convenient access for clients across the industry.