Tlale, SABC accused of theft
Content creator says reality shows are her ideas
The SABC has dismissed claims of copyright theft levelled against it‚ David Tlale and Pearl Modiadie by content creator Glodine Makapela.
Both Tlale and Modiadie have also rubbished the claims.
Makapela accused Tlale of The Intern and Modiadie of Raw Silk as well as the SABC of “stealing” her concept for a designer reality show.
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago told TshisaLIVE that while it was difficult for them to verify and investigate such a claim if it hadn’t been formally submitted‚ they were confident of their commissioning processes.
“It is really difficult for the SABC to verify any such claims without the producer/individual formally submitting their claim. They can submit their written complaint to Blessed Katiyo‚ who is the commissioning manager.” Kganyago said The Intern was licensed from Tlale, and was based on the internship that the designer has been running‚ but was not broadcast.
He said Raw Silk was commissioned from a list of submissions sent to the SABC in 2014.
Kganyago said a detailed process was followed to evaluate the proposal before it was selected.
He said the broadcaster also had strict protocols in place to deal with such accusations.
“The SABC‚ like all other intellectually driven entities, receives such claims regularly, especially for existing programmes.
“The SABC strives to adhere to Icasa’s [Independent Communications Authority of South Africa] complaint protocols.
“The SABC keeps accurate records of all its proposal submissions‚ dates‚ etc. If a claim is found to have validity, it is forwarded to the SABC’s forensic audit department to investigate independently of the television department.”
But Makapela said her original concept, which she claimed she had copyright to since 2011, had pieces of it stolen to create the two shows.
“I just want them to compensate the idea they stole. Copyright is copyright.
“Before we go the legal route, they must understand that we are giving them a chance to come clean. If it was us who stole the idea from them, they were gonna drag our names in the gutter,” she said.
Makapela said she had been working on the idea since 2011, but couldn’t get funding and backing. She titled it Top Designer and had a pilot for the
I just want them to compensate
show in 2015.
Modiadie said she was confused about her role in the issue as she was just a presenter.
“If anything, she should be approaching the SABC because she’s accusing them and the production company. So, when it comes to intellectual property, I’m not involved.”
Tlale also denied the accusations. His manager Davin Phillips commented: “I find it difficult for Ms Makapela to make such claims, when she has never even met Mr Tlale, or had any formal dialogue with him.
“Equally, Mr Tlale launched The Intern by David Tlale in 2011, which is a platform that has enjoyed great success.”