SANDTON, SOUTH AFRICA Ð AUGUST 26: Rapper Cassper Nyovest during the DStv Mzansi ViewerÕs Choice Awards (DStvMVCA) event at the Sandton Convention Centre on August 26, 2017 in Sandton, South Africa. Hosted by Bonang Matheba, the inaugural DStvMVCAÕs saw 50 Mzansi stars nominated in 10 awards categories which include: Favourite actor, favourite actress, favourite DJ and favourite comedian. (Photo by Gallo Images / Frennie Shivambu)
EFF call Cassper Nyovest a ‘bully’ in #FillUp trademark battle
The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) confirmed that #FillUp was a registered trademark.
SANDTON, SOUTH AFRICA Ð AUGUST 26: Rapper Cassper Nyovest during the DStv Mzansi ViewerÕs Choice Awards (DStvMVCA) event at the Sandton Convention Centre on August 26, 2017 in Sandton, South Africa. Hosted by Bonang Matheba, the inaugural DStvMVCAÕs saw 50 Mzansi stars nominated in 10 awards categories which include: Favourite actor, favourite actress, favourite DJ and favourite comedian. (Photo by Gallo Images / Frennie Shivambu)
Twitter erupted on Thursday when Cassper Nyovest and Benny Mayengeni went at it over the use of the #FillUp tag.
The Tsonga music star, Mayengeni, entertained scores of fans at Giyani Stadium last week. The central part of his promotion campaign featured a very familiar hashtag, #FillUpGiyaniStadium.
We all know that this #FillUp tag was first used to its full extent by Hip-Hop musician, Cassper, two years ago when he sold out the FNB Stadium in what was a great achievement for a rapper in South Africa.
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Once again, the central part of his promotion campaign was the hashtag #FillUpFNBStadium. He did it again a year later.
However, he and his team, Family Tree, feel some type of way now that another artist trying to use the impactful promotion strategy to garner attendance to his show.
Cassper’s position is that he wasn’t approached by Mayengeni to get permission to use the tag. According to the rapper, #FillUp is his registered trademark. However, EFF leader, Julius Malema doesn’t think this is necessary.
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EFF give Cassper Nyovest a piece of their mind
Malema labelled Cassper a bully and confirmed that they would be throwing their legal weight behind Mayengeni should the matter be taken to court.
“We will defend you chief [Mayengeni], don’t be scared of bullies who are threatened by talent. We have the best in town, let them bring it on,” the EFF leader exclaimed.
Furthermore, the EFF released an official statement addressing the matter:
“The EFF condemns with disgust, the lousy and absolutely greedy move by Hip-Hop musician Refiloe Phoolo aka Cassper Nyovest to sue Tsonga music artist Benny Mayengani for using the words “fill up” for his successful concert in Giyani stadium. Phoolo, through his lawyers, has written a letter to Maynegani claiming the words “Fill Up” belong to… him alone by trademark law,” the statement read.”
The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) confirmed, upon inquiry by Sowetan, that #FillUp was indeed a registered trademark.
Lerato Tlee Moilao also stated that the matter was in the hands of their legal team.
