The High Court of Tanzania has ordered the gaming company Princes Leisure (T) Ltd in Dar es Salaam to pay Simba player, John Raphael Bocco, Sh200 million for using his image in a commercial advertisement
The sentence was given last week on August 31, 2023 by Judge Irvin Mugeta of the High Court Small Registry of Dar es Salaam
Initially, Bocco asked the court to order the company to pay him Sh1 billion as compensation, stating that it used his image without having the authority to do so and to pay him a 25 percent royalty for the entire time it was used.
The ad with a picture of Boko released on the company's Instagram page between November 18, 2021 to December 1, 2021 and the message was read in the social network saying;
"League NBC continues today with 3 matches. The biggest one is Simba who will be the guests of Ruvu Shooting in Mwanza in the CCM Kirumba match. The days of money are back," and spread inside and outside Tanzania.
Bocco in the case, represented by lawyers Innocent Michael and Gadi Kabele, said the use of his photo meant he had broken his contract with Simba and the team was about to take disciplinary action against him
The case number 118 of 2022 was heard on one side (ex parte) because the debtor was removed from the proceedings after failing to submit his defense in writing within the time allowed by the law
The case was heard by Judge Mugeta on August 25, 2023 and the judgment was given on August 31 and a copy of the judgment was placed on the court website (Tanzill) specifically for publishing decisions, rules and regulations online for free
