By: Lolo Mhlanga
Popular DJ Phestus Mokgwetsi Victor Matshediso, who is known as Fistaz Mixwell, is being sued over copyright infringement of the logo “MATTEBLACK”.
This comes as the DJ was getting ready to expand his portfolio with the opening of a restaurant in Bryanston. The bone of contention relates to the name that a marketing company believes resembles theirs.
In legal papers served on Mixwell, the marketing company Matte BLK Africa situated in Grayston Drive, argues that the resemblance between the logos is striking and that they own copyrights to their created trademark MATTE BLACK logo.
In response to the letter, Mixwell tweeted that his restaurant is not a marketing agency and the company will not win in court.
“Crazy that matteblkafrica, a marketing agency, think they have some rights to use the naming MATTE BLACK as if they invented it. You are not Coca-Cola. A common description of a colour used globally?” he added.
Mixwell also took it to the company and reminded them that they had only applied for their trademark late last year in class 35 regarding Advertising, marketing, business management, and not Trademark class 43, which includes services provided by persons or establishments that prepare food and drinks for consumption.
