Google Explains Why LindaIkeji’s Blog Was Shut Down, Not A Case Of Witch Hunting

Yesterday, the Nigerian blogosphere went
agog as tech giant, Google shut down the blog
of celebrated blogger, Linda Ikeji, following
widespread allegations of copyright
infringement and plagiarism levelled against
her.
It all began a few days back when one Mr. Aye
Dee, Editor-in-Chief of United States-based
15Past8 media group, reported Linda Ikeji to
Google, accusing her of copyright
infringement.
“Google just notified us that they are removing
our copyrighted content from Linda Ikeji’s
website. All the stories and images Linda Ikeji
took from me without permission in the last
few days have been removed from her site by
Google. Someone has to say something. It
costs money to get good work done. I spend
time getting information from my sources, as
well as analysing and verifying the
information. All that costs money. I don’t
mind donating my time for Nigeria’s sake, but
for someone to take my labour and use it for
personal profit, no way!” Aye Dee had tweeted.
In a chat with the Punch, Google’s Manager
for Communications and Public Affairs, Anglo-
Phone West Africa, Taiwo Kolade-Ogunlade,
explained why the blog was taken down and
cleared the air on the misconceptions of
‘Witch-craft” and “Enemies of progress” belief.
He said Google takes the issue of copyright
seriously, adding that the company belongs to
a group of Internet firms that abides by the
provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright
Act and other applicable copyright laws.
“To respect the rights of copyright holders,
Google clearly spells out how users of its
products and services can get permission to
use someone else’s intellectual property such
as text, songs, images and footages. Google is
no respecter of anybody when it came to the
issues of copyright infringement, copyright is a
big deal.
“Google as an organisation takes issues of
copyright seriously and belongs to a group of
digital companies that respect copyrights.
“Copyright is a big deal and this is why you
can’t just go and pick up another person’s
intellectual property or content and lay claim
to its ownership.
“That is why we have copyright guidance. I
don’t know if Linda picked up any content and
I don’t know what content is the bone of
contention-neither have I looked into the
complaints personally.
“But it is not a case of witch-hunting and has
nothing to do with Linda Ikeji’s personality or
anyone else because there is a process, and
irrespective of who you are in the world, that
process would apply to you.
“It has become imperative for online
entrepreneurs to respect the rights of
copyright holders noting that the Internet
community should be built on mutual trust
and general respect.
“Let’s respect other people’s rights and
intellectual property. Making money off other
people’s content without permission is wrong.
Although the Internet is inanimate, it is the
content on it that gives it life. These are the
issues.
“Whenever owners of online contents come
after you accusing you of using their content,
it is because they have families to feed and
businesses to sustain.
“People should also understand that
copyrights does not only apply to text, but
also extends to literary works, images and
photographs, music files and MP3s, movies,
movie trailers and videos as well as software,”
Kolade-Ogunlade explained.