Question posted in the Intellectual Property Law category relating to Western Cape
Hi my name is Werner im based in Cape Town. I was an victim of an American that was proclaiming he is making Hollywood Film in Cape Town in 2017. Long story short - more victims came forward globally. Recent events is that the film maker whom wrote the screen play aka Bert Stroo passed away. The issue is we dont know whom the estate attorneys are and if the film rights was provide over to the american. How would we go by to be able to get the estate details to ask the estate of they have given him the details over or not?
Yes we have bene placed down an formal applostiled affadvit already. We have been in contact with the script school of where Bert Stroo made the birth of the blue mauriitous ip aka screen play.https://ivoblom.wordpress.com/2017/03/29/bert-stroo-1965-2017/ and here -https://scriptacademy.nl/2017/02/11/memoriam-bert-stroo/ and here is the imbd -https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1797508/. Long story short we need to get hold of Bert Stroo estate but we dont know how as we need to clarify was TMB rights handed over to Dexter Davis. As we have numerous testmonials of poeple menotning diffrent thigns.
Message from the Attorney
Hi there and thank you for your question,
I am a practicing attorney based in South Africa and I will assist you with your question. Please feel free to ask as many follow up questions in order to clarify your question. If you have a new question, you must please open a new thread.
Please keep in mind that our discussions is for general information purposes only. Our engagement on this website does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Are you able to share copy of the formal applostiled affadvit with me so I can understand a little bit of the background?
Please feel free to email your further queries and/or documents to PatrickLegalQuestions<at>outlook.com
I do note that this issue or dispute arose in 2017, which is about 8 years ago, so my initial concern is that your claim might have prescribed because it is older than 3 years. But I would like to see what your affidavit says and I would like to understand when you submitted your claim (if at all) and also who you submitted your claim to?
When did the film maker whom wrote the screen play aka Bert Stroo pass away?
Message from the Customer
I was never paid for my PR services from Dexter Davis aka D Street Media Group. I was brought under false prestences and Forbes Africa revoked his article. More victims stepped forward in Tanzania, Jamaica, Germany, Equador etc. See him as the tindler swindler. He is still using The Blue Mauritious to film in Cape Town but then asking people to invest in his so called film which was not his from the start. It was Bert Stroo. Hence why I dont quite understanding what do you mean that I cannot place in a claim when I am not asking for a claim kindly but merely needing to ask if you would be able to help get the lawyers details of the Estate of Bert Stroo whom is the original screen play owner of The Blue Mauritious. We know this as we have made contact with the lecturer that was in the class room with Bert in 2005 that created and birthed the blue mauriitous with the copyright of it. Sadly the film school closed / re name and all rights stayed with Bert. Dexter knew this.
Hence why we kindly asking if you can assist in helping to get the Estate Details of Bert Stroo in order to place in the request of Was The Blue Mauritious Film Rights aka copyrights sent over to Dexter Davis legal matter aka legal way? As per other discussions from scrip writers the answer is that he does not have the rights of the characters and the screen play.
Does that makes sense kindly.
Message from the Customer
Message from the Customer
Take into consideration that this AMERICAN has zero assets in Cape Town yet alone zero assets globally! Bert Stroo died - 1967- 2007 aka on 5 February 2017.
Message from the Attorney
I have received your email with thanks. I will need to read through the attachments and see what I can find. Can you give me 24 hours to come back to you?
Message from the Customer
Message from the Attorney
I have just read your affidavit and if you were seeking to recover the money in South Africa as a jurisdiction, the first sentence of your affidavit which says that you provided your services in 2017 would be the thing which brings an end to your claim straight away because that is more than 3 years ago.
Just to confirm, you initially provided your services to Dexter Davis. Is that correct?
Surely any claim that you have for services provided would be against Dexter?
Message from the Customer
Let me make this absolutely and unequivocally clear:
I am not seeking to recover any money from Dexter Davis. I am not lodging any claim against Dexter Davis, nor against the Bert Stroo Estate. Please make a strong note of this. I am not initiating, suggesting, or pursuing legal action for compensation of any kind.
I fully understand that any services rendered in 2017 fall outside of South Africa’s jurisdiction for recovery. That is not in dispute, and I’m not challenging it.
Yes, I did provide services to Dexter Davis at the time — but again, I know very well that he is broke. I do not expect, and will never receive, any payment back from him. This is not about recovering lost funds. I understand the reality of that situation.
What I am trying to establish is this:
Was The Blue Mauritius — the film concept — legally and officially handed over to the Bert Stroo Estate?
And if so, can you confirm who the attorneys or legal representatives of the Bert Stroo Estate are?
This is a matter relating to the ownership and film rights of The Blue Mauritius, not any financial claim or legal compensation. We have reason to believe new evidence has surfaced involving exclusive school access to the script — which, if the film rights were not legally transferred, would raise serious questions about the continued exploitation of intellectual property.
The core issue is that Dexter Davis is once again operating out of Ecuador, opening new offices, employing new people, and failing to pay them — a clear pattern of exploitation across multiple countries. Victims include:
Ava, who paid over £50,000 in the UK for a promised film — no delivery.
Another individual in Los Angeles who paid $40,000 USD for PR support in Cape Town — no film.
Others who’ve experienced credit card fraud and financial abuse.
A known $1 million lawsuit against him in the U.S. — hence his move to Ecuador to avoid garnishment.
We are documenting these cases as part of a film festival in Jamaica, to raise awareness and expose the global trail of damage. The newly surfaced school script is part of that evidence, hence the importance of clarifying who currently holds the legal rights to The Blue Mauritius.
Again, I am not asking for money, nor lodging a claim.
I simply seek clarity on the rightful ownership and registration of these film rights.
Thank you for your time and understanding.
Message from the Attorney
100% understood. Let me see what I can find out.
Message from the Customer
I've just sent through some additional information regarding TBM for your review. Please note that the latest screenplay dated December 2021 lists only Maurice as the writer, with no mention of Bert Stroo. In my personal view, this raises ethical concerns, as the story was not solely Dexter's to begin with.
Additionally, the script does not include a WGA registration number. For reference, neither D Street Pictures nor D Street Media Group appears to be registered with the WGA.
You will also find a separate link that shows the 2018 registration of a version of the script by Carmella. She has since confirmed that she is no longer associated with TBM or Dexter Davis. This effectively means that she registered her own version of the script in 2018. A closer look suggests that Dexter was not the original writer of the screenplay either.
Message from the Attorney
I am afraid that I have not been able to find any information pertaining to the estate of the late Bert Stroo, nor who the attorneys are who are dealing with his estate. Given that he passed away in 2017, the possibility exists that his estate was wound up by 2020, and the attorneys who were appointed are no longer acting for the estate. They might have also destroyed the files or something if the estate has been finalised.
I'm sorry, but I don't think that I am going to be able to be much help moving forwards if I can't locate any information about his estate or his exeuctors!
Message from the Customer
Message from the Attorney
Oh my goodness....so what does this mean moving forward for anybody wanting to make this film or wanting to create these film rights? -- I have absolutely no idea.
Am I understanding then correctly then that nobdoy can then make this film or have its copyright of the characters if that estate does not exist? -- I'm not saying that the estate does not exist. I'm saying that I can't find any attorney who is dealing with the estate.
If somebody writes a play, and then dies, another person could steal the play and "make it their own" and make a movie out of it. Only if the executor of the estate challenges this person, and sues them to get the play back, will something happen.
Message from the Customer
I hope you're well.
I’ve received confirmation from Bert Stroo’s agent Berlin (also referred to as the Legal Department), stating that they were indeed a witness to Bert having a contract involving The Blue Mauritious. However, they clarified that their agency was not the one representing The Blue Mauritious in that context. Upon further review of past communications, they also confirmed that Dexter Davis was involved in the past emails Bert shared with them (Archives)
Given this information, could you kindly clarify:
Does this mean that any matters related to The Blue Mauritious after February 2017 would legally have to go through the Bert Stroo Estate? Additionally, please take into account that, to date, no one appears to have seen any formal communication or letters issued by the estate regarding The Blue Mauritious after 2017.
Looking forward to your thoughts on this.
Kind Regards,
Werner
Message from the Attorney
Hi again, if there was a contract entered into by Bert Stroo while he was still alive which dealt with the rights to TBM, then it is probably correct that it no longer vests in his estate. It really does depend on what the nature of that agreement was.
Message from the Customer
Thank you for your reply — I fully understand your position.
I just wanted to share some additional context regarding the inquiry. The individual had publicly commented on Bert’s memoir, stating:
"I was shocked to learn of Bert’s passing the other day and deeply saddened. He was indeed a sweet man and very kind. I’m actually the executive producer of The Blue Mauritius and would like to be in contact with whomever is in charge of his estate or his family. Can anyone help?"
— D. Davis, May 4, 2017 at 8:15 am - https://ivoblom.wordpress.com/2017/03/29/bert-stroo-1965-2017/
He was clearly inquiring about the estate at the time. (scroll down to comments section)
Additionally, it has been publicly stated and documented that he co-wrote the script (was registered in USA 2018), which was officially registered but it was the director's version the time She is no longer the director. If the rights were not legally transferred to him and his role was strictly related to production development, would there have been any formal requirement on his part to address this via the estate?
Appreciate your guidance on this.
Message from the Attorney
I actually do not know. I would assume yes, if Bert still had any financial interest in the script at the time of his passing!