An advertising design company has gone to court accusing former lottery operator Ithuba Holdings of illegally using its designs for the launch of the National Lottery of Tanzania campaign.

The Sunday Times reports that Dreamcast Media, which created the campaign’s branding, designs, animations and television commercials, has approached the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) seeking to confirm its copyright and restrain Ithuba from continuing to use them without permission.

In his founding affidavit, Dreamcast director Neo Majafe says the company was approached in November 2024 by an Ithuba employee, Mpange Chapeshamano, to assist with creating marketing and branding material for the launch of the new lottery in Tanzania. 

The parties subsequently concluded a campaign agreement, which Dreamcast says included branding, design, animation and television commercials.

Majafe says the agreement was concluded orally, or partly orally and partly in writing, during April or May 2025.

The affidavit says any permission granted to use the creative work was conditional on full payment. Majafe states that no written assignment of copyright or exclusive licence was granted to Ithuba or its agency, Blanq Agency.

The company says it completed the work required under the agreement, including the final television and video deliverables and 30-second cutdowns of the original commercials.

The affidavit records that the purchase order issued by Blanq on 24 April 2025 reflected a total of R400 000 for the television commercial project.

After a payment of R64 516, Dreamcast says the remaining balance of R345 483 was never paid.

Ithuba did not respond to questions from the Sunday Times.

Full Sunday Times report