Munch and Sip owner urges businesses to copyright names

THE founder of acclaimed Munch & Sip food festival, Mandipa Masuku has revealed that she came close to losing her business tag name to a Mutare based events firm after it tweaked the name.

She said a Mutare based firm started operating as Sip and Munch, almost identical to her famed Munch and Sip.

Speaking during a Hustlers Summit held under the theme ‘Discover Define Deliver’ last week in Bulawayo, Masuku stressed the importance for event organisers and entertainment practitioners securing their ventures through registration with relevant authorities and having copyrights.

This prevents their business models or trade names from being ‘stolen’ and perfected by their rivals.

“Luckily I had all the copyrights in place, so I was not really fazed by that occurrence. However, this became a wake-up call to show that anything is possible, someone can run with your idea and get all necessary operational papers before you and there’s nothing to be done when it’s at that level,” said Masuku.

During the summit, it was noted that many businesses are operating without certificates of services with some not paying required taxes to relevant authorities.

Innovators have constantly been encouraged to register their products before sharing them with the public as that secures their ideas from being ‘stolen’ by individuals or companies.

Mandipa Masuku

A patent is an exclusive right granted by law to applicants for an invention, which is a product or process that provides a new way of doing something or offers a new technical solution to a problem.

Intellectual Property protection provides businesses and innovators a competitive advantage by excluding others from utilising their innovations, meaning businesses and innovators will have a monopoly in the market for their innovative products and processes.

Munch and Sip is a festival that has cemented its reputation over the years and a regular event on Bulawayo’s entertainment calendar.

It promotes African food culture with some music and wine.

Masuku said the festival is also environmentally conscious as it has partnered with waste companies to clean up event premises after the show.

“Munch and Sip is a very big event hence we have given it our all to also be friendly with the environment by disposing the waste very wisely.

“There are waste companies we work with that help us clear up after events to keep the environment safe and clean to everyone. Some of the waste can be put up for recycling purposes, “said Mandipa.

Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu

Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry Mangaliso Ndlovu said such events have the potential of boosting the city’s Bulawayo’s tourism.

“Such events help Bulawayo be recognised. Tourists eventually get to spend a few more days after such events wanting to see more of the Bulawayo culture,” said the Minister.

During the summit, there were calls for emerging businesses to insure their ventures and develop a culture of keeping business records.-chronicle.c.zw