Rapper Cassper Nyovest, real name Refiloe Phoolo, has accused Xitsonga music star Benny Mayengani of stealing his “trademarked” concept.
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This comes after Benny Mayengani used his #FillUp concept to fill up Giyani Stadium. The award-winning Xitsonga musician fulfilled his goal of packing the 20000-seater Stadium, topping the venue’s capacity with 4000 extra fans.
Mr Nyovest has come forward claiming that he owns the popular #FillUp concept and that his manager Lerato ‘TLee’ Moiloa approached Benny before the concert on Saturday, asking him not to use the concept.
In the past, Cassper fulfilled his goals by filling up the Dome, Orlando Stadium and FNB Stadiums using the #FillUpTheDome #FillUpOrlandoStadium and #FillupFNBStadium concept.
Cassper’s manager said Cassper trademarked the concept last year. He further stated that they have approached a legal team to deal with the Benny Mayengani issue.
“This guy (Cassper) spent so many millions building the #FillUp brand, now you want to come and eat from it, and if he does anything about it ‘he is being a bully or victimising people’,” he said.
“If you don’t have permission then you are infringing his copy rights and there are legal implications.”
Moiloa said he called Fill Up Giyani Stadium organiser Howard Mushava of Shilubani Holdings three weeks ago to stop them from using the concept.
“He got a call from me three weeks ago and I was so kind and said it’s great that (Fill Up) is inspiring people to do a similar thing but you can’t just create your own chicken in Soweto or where ever, and call it KFC, it’s copyright infringement,” Moiloa said.
“Why is it that somebody can just come and steal a black child’s idea, and it’s okay, we just have to accept it, and if we do something about it legally then we are getting smacks…? It’s amazing that it’s inspiring but it should inspire you to do your own thing and not steal,” he said.
Mashava said he researched a few months back and learned that the idea wasn’t trademarked by anyone.
“I checked that word before we started with this concert to check if it’s registered. This thing was not actually started by him, it was started by Black Coffee,” he said.
Mashava said Mayengani is preparing to fill up Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane in December.
Cassper Nyovest is also planning on filling up Moses Mabhida Stadium the same month.
Image Courtesy: instagram.com/casspernyovest