Q: We are food bloggers and were invited by a restaurant to review their food. Once we arrived, the owner said she did not know of this. When we showed her the written confirmation from her husband she refused to accept it. They wasted our time and money, making us come all the way to her restaurant just to be told to get out. She was becoming hostile so my sister took out her phone to take a video of her screaming at us. But when the lady noticed the phone she attacked my sister. She pulled and scratched her very badly. She left a big mark on my sister’s arm. When the police came we were told to delete the video which we did in front of them itself. Once the police left, she threatened us that if we ever mention this to someone, post about it on Instagram, or leave a bad review on Zomato, that they will take us to court. Can she do this? I only want to write an honest review on Zomato where I explain our situation and post the pictures of my sisters arm. Or can she make a case on us?

Q: Hi, I just wanted clarification on something. I recently wrote to a clinic where I had a bad experience - in a private email - to complain about the service. The clinic has now threatened me with breach of Federal Law. I haven't published anything on social media but did say in my email that I wouldn't recommend the clinic on platforms where families chat about which clinic they should choose for IVF. How much in trouble am I with the Clinic? What can they do? I was just expressing my personal experience! Thank you.

Q: Hi! If I got an awful service in a beauty salon in Dubai. Do I have right to write my feedback about this salon on their Facebook page, Google page or anywhere on social media? If not, then what is the legal way against such bad services and how to warn my friends to avoid this place?

Q: My father took a video in a mall and a lady appeared accidentally in that video. She gave a complaint, and now the judgment is 6 months imprisonment and deportation. Can we give appeal and can they remove deportation and reduce the imprisonment? My father and mother are residing in the UAE for the past 10 years and there are no other cases against my father. He is innocent and this incident happened accidentally. We are 2 girls and this will affect our future. Is there is any chance?

Q: I am living with my family in a villa of 10 houses. I was cleaning my car in front of the villa, one of my neighbors took a picture of me with my wife and shared it with all the neighbors telling them not to clean cars outside the villa. My wife is from Pakistan; she wears a hijab and covers her face all the time. This picture humiliates me and my wife in front of every neighbor. Can I file a case against this man who took the picture without permission and humiliated my wife? Is there any law in UAE, Abu Dhabi that can support me?

Q: The staff of my company posted my photos on social media without any permission because of the delayed payments. Is it acceptable?

س: السلام عليكم، اتفقت مع أحد المصورين على التقاط صور لفتاة (موديل) أثناء عمل أحد العاملين بمجال التجميل لعرضها على أحد منصات التواصل الاجتماعي لتُفاجَأ صاحبة الصورة باستخدام صورها في إعلانات لمنتج وعرضها في عدة مراكز تسويق وفي حملات إعلانية بدون الحصول على إذنها. ما الإجراء القانوني الواجب اتخاذه؟ وهل يحق لصاحبة الصورة المطالبة بالتعويض عن هذا الاستغلال؟

An interview-format article covering the topic of influencer licensing and VAT in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.