A Tale of Plagiarism one too Numerous For Nigeria’s Linda Ikeji

<br>Every social media savvy Nigerian knows Linda Ikeji, or ought to understand her, and it is almost impossible to have a conversation centred on online media in Nigeria without her name popping up, one method or another.By embodying that well known Nigerian can-do mindset, ex-model Linda prospered in making her name a recommendation point whenever people in Nigeria think of a successful news website. For this woman from simple beginnings, beginning a blog when her began to unwind was something to do, for the love of it, never ever for money. This was some 6+ years ago. Now, with the majority of the better-known business organisations in Nigeria vying for advert space on her blog, Linda’s enthusiasm has actually turned her into Nigeria’s premier blog writer, and wealthiest, by far.Over the years, Linda has actually set trends, affected government policy and provided Nigerians lots of things to speak about. Fearing what a negative exposé on her blog would do their image or professions, stars of all kinds gravitated to her, and Linda, whose modelling career would never ever be stated to be that high flying, became a celebrity, and got to rub shoulders with those who declare ownership of the glitzy world of glamour.<br>
<br>Maintaining a simple mien, Linda, initially, didn’t seem to care much about all the glamour, but she did keep in mind how far she had come and never failed to tell the world how she moved from not having a thousand Naira in her checking account a couple of years ago to getting to where she is today: all from having and consistently posting on her easy design blogspot site, from the convenience of her bedroom.As part of an interview panel a few weeks earlier, I heard interviewees gush about how much they appreciate Linda’s work ethics and her capability to record and own a section. ‘She’s so good, she makes her blogging appear like talking with your good friends,’ one amazing ambitious author gushed when asked what she believes is the Linda Ikeji magic. I agreed with her. I believe Linda Ikeji is incredible, in her consistency. As somebody who desires the writer tag, I understand direct how hard staying on track is.Advertisement<br>
<br>Some weeks ago, Linda published that she had obtained a brand name new Range Rover 4X4 and social networks went abuzz. Many people wondered if spending 24 million on one vehicle makes good sense, particularly if you already have two great automobiles in a nation where (as the IMF can’t stop informing the world) the typical person subsists on less than a dollar a day. However, there were those who felt it was a good relocation: a grand announcement that the blogger had joined the world of the extremely rich.Linda Ikeji displays her wheels. Photo: Linda Ikeji’s Blog<br>
<br>Perhaps it was the interest created by the purchase, however Nigerian social media remains abuzz. Not with the news of the very vehicle, however around something that has actually evaded the girl’s heels for several years: the concern of what many view as her rampant plagiarism.Now, you ‘d need to visit Linda’s blog to better understand her design, but the reality is that, generally, beyond the 2 liners she includes, she can’t declare ownership to the majority of the material. In the new age of very fast breaking news and countless individual blogs, copying and pasting is becoming more rampant and, in places such as Nigeria, is erroneously being perceived as the norm.As soon as the twitter furore over Linda’s recent usage of somebody’s material without attribution or permission began on October 4 2014, a great deal of people rapidly got on her case.22/ 32 Despite making 10s of thousands of US$ on a monthly basis from her website, @LindaIkeji selects to willfully neglect ALL copyright holders,- Mr. Aye Dee (@MrAyeDee) October 5, 2014
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<br>Linda Ikeji steals short articles and is called effective. If you call her out, it’s beef. This is why political leaders steal our wealth & are hailed.- Ikenna Ronald Nzimora (@ronaldnzimora) October 5, 2014
https://twitter.com/sugabelly/status/518772004540153856But, Linda is not without her supporters: I don’t think in ‘haters’. I don’t believe it’s hating. I simply think it’s a rejection to accept her legitimacy. But it exists, solid.- Chude Jideonwo (@Chude) October 4, 2014Advertisement<br>
<br>Leave Linda Ikeji alone. Start your own blog. Run it the way you desire. Then buy your own Range Rover.- Ohimai Amaize (@MrFixNigeria) October 4, 2014
When all is stated and done, the fact will remain as glaring as it is easy: The web is seriously challenging the existing copyright laws and the sheer number of violations makes most attempts at persecution a really tall order. However, the fact likewise speaks of rights and wrongs: Stealing somebody’s copyright is wrong and making a profit out of it is even worse.As I’ve said in the past, most content owners are OK with others utilizing part of their work (with attribution and a link back to the initial source) but are unhappy with the copy and paste journalists who think it is fair play to occupy their sites with contents that are the fruit of somebody’s extreme labour.Advertisement<br>
<br>I won’t declare to be saintish. Nobody is. And I make certain there are several ways to excuse Linda’s alleged disobediences, but those excuses fade in the light of the oft-repeated assertion that she neglects people who try to call her when she infringes on their copyright.That’s regrettable. For someone who is an inspiration to numerous young individuals here, she needs to know that there is significant distinction between a press release and an IP. For a press release, most content owners will enjoy that it is being reposted throughout the internet. As a motivator and good example, Linda requires to start teaching those who admire her that a piece like the one you read, as unattractive as it may appear, is someone’s infant and like most children, you need to ask the parent for permission before you take them on a trip away from home. And after, let me know where my infant is and how far she’s travelled by sending out a message back home, with a track back.She requires to show that beyond the buzz, she can up her game and set the ideal sort of standards.<br>