Question 1

What to do if an advertiser or partner doesn't pay for completed work?

Accepted Answer

Algorithm: 1) Fix proof of fulfillment — screenshots of publications, dates, links, correspondence confirming the brief; 2) Calculate debt amount + penalty (0.1% per day if in contract, or 3% annual per Art. 625 Civil Code if not); 3) Send written claim demanding payment within 10 days with court warning; 4) If ignored — lawsuit to commercial court (LLC) or local general court (sole proprietor/individual): debt + penalty + 3% annual + court and attorney costs at defendant's expense. Most advertisers pay after receiving the official claim.

Question 2

Can you sue for defamation on social media and get compensation?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Art. 277 Civil Code of Ukraine — right to refutation of inaccurate information. Art. 280 — moral damage compensation. Algorithm: 1) Fix the publication (notarial certification or attorney inspection); 2) Prove information is inaccurate — key condition; 3) Claim to author/resource demanding removal and refutation; 4) Court lawsuit: moral damage compensation, publication removal, public refutation. Moral damage amounts depending on defamation scale: from UAH 10,000 to several million.

Question 3

How to resolve a dispute about authorship or rights to a song/content?

Accepted Answer

Authorship disputes are among the most complex. Key steps: 1) Collect priority evidence — publication dates, original files with metadata, correspondence with editor/producer, witnesses; 2) If a contract exists — analyze its conditions on copyright transfer; 3) If no contract — authorship is proven through court. Copyright arises automatically for whoever actually created the work (Art. 437 Civil Code), but in disputes between two people, the one with more evidence and who published first wins. O'LAW attorney evaluates chances before litigation.

Question 4

What is mediation and when is it more effective than court?

Accepted Answer

Mediation is a voluntary out-of-court procedure with a neutral intermediary, where parties independently agree on conflict resolution. More effective than court when: 1) Parties want to preserve the relationship; 2) Evidence is complex and court outcome is uncertain; 3) Fast decision needed (mediation — 1-4 sessions vs 12-18 months in court); 4) Flexible solution wanted (not just money — apologies, continuing joint project). Regulated by the Law «On Mediation» (since 2021). O'LAW attorney represents your interests at mediation sessions.

Question 5

What to do if a producer or agency violates contract terms?

Accepted Answer

Depends on the violation: 1) Not fulfilling financial obligations (delayed royalties, fees) — claim + debt recovery lawsuit; 2) Exceeding authority (signing deals without consent) — claim for declaring deals invalid; 3) Confidential information leak (NDA violation) — lawsuit for NDA penalty + damage recovery; 4) Unlawful blocking of creativity — lawsuit to stop obstacles. In each case start with claim and fixation of violation, court is the last resort. O'LAW attorney handles all these categories.

Question 6

Can you win a court case without a written contract — only based on correspondence?

Accepted Answer

Difficult, but sometimes possible. Messenger and email correspondence can be evidence (Art. 76 Civil Procedure Code), if sender identity is confirmed and dates are reliable. However, screenshots are easily challenged without notarial certification; without a contract it's hard to prove the terms. Generally without a contract winning in court is significantly harder, and O'LAW attorney will realistically assess your chances in advance.

Question 7

How long does creative dispute resolution take?

Accepted Answer

Depends on the path: Mediation — 1-4 sessions, 2-8 weeks; Cease & Desist claim — 7-30 days until counterparty response; Court (first instance) — simple cases 3-6 months, complex 8-18 months; Appellate court — additional 4-8 months. Most blogger-advertiser disputes are resolved at the claim stage within 1-3 months. O'LAW attorney provides a realistic forecast after reviewing the situation.

Question 8

How much does creative dispute resolution at O'LAW cost?

Accepted Answer

Depends on scope: one-time consultation with prospects assessment — basic rate; claim (C&D) drafting with evidence fixation — separate service; representation at mediation — mid-range; court case management — fixed amount per instance or hourly. For debt recovery cases, a «success fee» model is possible — percentage of recovered amount. At consultation, O'LAW attorney announces exact cost after situation assessment.

Creative Conflicts: From Claim to Court — Resolved From the First Step

Types of disputes we handle

Unpaid fees and royalties

Contract violations

NDA violations

Authorship and rights disputes

Defamation and reputation defense

Producer/agency conflicts

Creative partnership breakup

Platform conflicts

Two paths to result

Peaceful path (always first)

Court path (when peaceful failed)

Who especially needs this service

Frequently asked questions

Conflict blocking your creativity — let's resolve it together

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Phone

+38 063 404 67 68

+38 068 679 52 51

Telegram

t.me/olaw_help

Address

32 Doroshenka St., Lviv

Creative and Media Dispute Resolution in Lviv