Much like the first words on Celine Dion, Peabo Bryson’s Beauty and the Beast, “Tale as old as time” a creative has come out with incriminating evidence, accusing Somizi Mhlongo-Motaung of intellectual property theft for his hit show “Dinner at Somizi’s”.
The storm comes after former 702 radio host Eusebius Mckaiser shared emails from Moeng, who alleges that the multi-talented TV personality stole the cooking show idea that he pitched back in 2014.
On 28 July 2014, Hastings Moeng proposed #DinnerAtSomizis to Somizi & Themba. The description of the show is materially similar to the one now flighted (to the shock of Mr Moeng). See the 2014 email below and decide for yourself. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/QVcpJIAY8o
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) September 15, 2020
Twitter was divided, while others are livid and expressing their dissatisfaction with Somizi, Intellectual Property theft became the broader conversation in the entertainment industry by the same token, sharing knowledge on how to protect IPs.
IP Lawyers are expensive please. Most creatives can not afford them. Non Disclosure Agreements? They are a nightmare to enforce and not everyone agrees to sign them for the first “consultation”. Be an ethical person.
— Mary-Jane Mphahlele (@Mary_JaneSA) September 16, 2020
I was told by a producer that you can’t actually copyright an idea. Only an actual script. But you can get an NDA drawn up and signed before you send the pitch. It’s very sad that you have to watch your back but you do. https://t.co/GDiYhP5Kjt
— Lesego Tlhabi (@LesegoTlhabi) September 16, 2020
