Cassper Nyovest trademark debacle and it’s not #FillUp
A Cassper Nyovest trademark debacle has developed after he kicked up a major fuss on social media regarding an alleged trademark infringement on the term #FillUp, as it seems he has trademark infringement allegations against him as well.
Last week he accused fellow musician Benny Mayengani of illegally using his famous hashtag to attract concert-goers to a show at Giyani Stadium in Limpopo.
Cassper even went as far as sending a cease-and-desist letter to the accused, despite revelations in the media that he didn’t register the trademark properly.
Now the tables have turned and Mr Nyovest is the one accused of trademark infringement by car-spinning enthusiast Kabelo Hlongwane.
Hlongwane owns the trademark to the word “Gusheshe” and “Gusheshe festival”, which he registered in 2009 because of his plans to create a spinning festival. (Which has yet to come into fruition, but that’s beside the point.)
Gusheshe
Gusheshe is a slang term used to describe a specific make of car, but also means to “go fast.”
The infringement comes in because Cassper used the aforementioned trademarked term as an album title without the consent of Hlongwane.
When Hlongwane tried to approach Cassper about the trademark infringement he was referred to the artist’s lawyer but had given an incorrect/not working e-mail address.
Hlongwane has since found legal counsel from Khumisi Kganare, of Kganare and Khumalo Attorneys.
The Saturday Star has seen his certificates of registration from the Registrar of Trademarks, signed in 2012 and 2014, though live since 2009.
“I’m not fighting Cassper, I’m not anyone’s enemy. But it shows that the producers of his album didn’t do due diligence and check if the name was registered. They used my trademark without telling me,” he said.
“As small companies, we have to comply with registering our property, but bigger companies must do the due diligence. They can’t just do what they want,” he said.
There has yet been a response from the rapper re: the Cassper Nyovest trademark debacle, but this story will no doubt keep on developing.
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