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Plagiarizing/Theft by Omo Aña Michael Orta and Ochareo.com: Victory is Ours!
This page exists for numerous reasons. It illustrates plainly that some amongst us are more than just imperfect, but perfectly willing to do bad acts against others. Furthermore, some of us bring our Eurocentric mindset to the tradition of Africans, and in doing so set a bad example of what these traditions really stand for.
But, we see also that no tradition reforms or regenerates without genuine effort from the student. Gods and Ancestors do not beg for us to change our ways! So this page is a reminder that we must all do our best to protect our character by projecting the BEST OF our character, lest we confuse newcomers and nemesis who relish for opportunities to accuse us of savagery and low scruples.
Lastly, this page is a testament to the fact that we do not always have to go our Warriors and Crowned Orisa to make war, even on those that seem content on thwarting our best efforts and ruining our most humble goals. We ask for aggression on the spiritual plane when every other possibility has been exhausted, we are outnumbered or when the Spiritual Forces volunteer. In any case, a little negative publicity and access to a lawyer has solved this problem without any extra effort.
I have every right to keep this page active as a warning to others that might plagiarize our site content. I also have a right to advocate for the others that tell me their content is STILL on ochereo. So until I receive word via a court order that suggests otherwise, this page remains. In the meantime, be forewarned the copyright statement on this site is not decoration.
If ochareo has or is currently stealing your content write kerry@webhost4life.com
Update: March 10, 2005
EZHostingBiz.com and Webhost4Life.com has recitified this matter to avoid be held liable for knowingly hosting sites that publish copyrighted material. Michael Orta contracts with Webhost4Life, which is reseller of EZHostingBiz web space. Later today they will removing my content from the ochareo.com site. It's shame that only a threat of lawsuit can bring somebody to do right by others. Especially someone that claims to follow the dictates of the Orisa.
Update: March 14, 2005
Here is a copy of the email I received from their webmaster who was gone for close to 1.5 years and obviously too valuable to be replaced. Check out the tone. He initially apologizes, then he tells me that he had permission to print my articles (did you call me in my sleep?) then he suggests that I temper my actions for fear of legal action (how do you sue someone for telling the world you stole from them?) They must be kidding.
Dear Sir: I am the webmaster for ochareo.com. Unfortunately I have been out of the country and may I express my deepest apologies for the inconvenience. Further, please be assured that I will remove the content immediately. The content I had copied mistakedly was from another site which I had asked permission to take from. I and Mr. Orta are ethical people and we have no need to steal, copy or lie any content from you or from anyone. I further ask permission from the website which I had done and they had given me the go ergo, I copied and pasted. Should you not want you material published by people who might be admirers of your work, then you should have your webmasters put in a simple script to prevent copying in a dynamic content setting.
Again, please be assured that the content will be removed in the next hour and there shall be no more problems as such. But before you do continue slandering the site, legally I would suggest that you investigate the facts before making such comments which will prove to be grounds for a libel suit.
Thank you very much for your time and assistance and should you need to contact me directly, my email will be included in this brief letter. And since we are doing my part I strongly suggest you remove the libelous comments and there will be no more problems in the near future. Thank you and be well.
Ric Oms
How does one mistakingly copy something that you got permission for?
Background
In the summer of 2003 I contacted Omo Aña Mike Orta about the appearance of an article written by myself on communicating with the Egun that belonged to Roots and Rooted, which had mysteriously appeared on his own "Ile" site ochareo.com. It's important to emphasize that I have never met, spoke, heard of or otherwise been acquainted with Mr. Orta prior to this act of theft. He had this to say:
Dear Ifasehun Ojedele,I would like to express my deepest apologies for any inconvenience that I may have caused you.Can you please provide me with your telephone number so that I may verbally contact you and discuss the problem in hand.Sincerely,Michael Orta
On Oct. 23, 2003 I wrote him:
Baba Michael,
I have been unable to find the time to call back. Is there any reason why you would insist that we speak before you remove my article? In addition, I have to inform you that at least two other articles on your site were copied from older Orisa or ATR sites. I suppose at this point I am primarily concerned about protecting my own literary rights. But in the spirit of the Orisa, I think its more ethically intune for me advocate on behalf of these other authors as well.
You might be interested in knowing that a number of Ab'Orisa that frequent the internet have dialogued or viewed dialogues regarding your site's short history of redistributing the works of others without prior permission. Prior to contacting you I made contact with another individual that had worked to remove his Ile's material from your site.
Again, unless there is a good reason why we must talk, I prefer that you just remove the material within the next few days. That would most satisfy my needs and prevent any further action on my part. I have noticed that your site is down today, but I can only assume that is temporary server problem or for some maintenance.
Please provide in writing your assurance that you will remove from your web site and erase from any hard drive or other computer storage system my article on Egungun.
Ifasehun Thabiti Ojedele
Needless to say, I never got my admission of wrongdoing in writing. And I regrettably provided him with my business number... He called me shortly thereafter and promised to remove the article. Two months later, the article still not removed I called back at which time he told me that his webmaster wasn't available or had left town, or some other completely inadequate excuse and that if given anothe rmonth it would be taken care of.
It's interesting to note that he claimed that his site was registered and controlled by someone else, when a whois search clearly shows him as the registrant and owner:
Official Network Solutions WhoIs Database Search results:
Saydel Incorporated (DWAZDEERKO)
michael@saydel.com
2475 East Slauson Avenue
Huntington Park, CA 90255
US
Phone: 323-585-2800
Fax: 323-581-6341
Michael Orta runs Saydel Inc.
Fast foward to 2004 and it still stands as is. An english and spanish version of our works on Mr. Ortal's site. So I sent the following email on April 26, 2004:
Michael,
I see that you have made changes to your website, but
I want you to know that just because the article is
now in spanish this doesnt mean that I can't read it
and see subtle allusions to my text transplanted to
yours. (You retain my opening sentence as your own for
one, which is pretty tacky and would draw some one to
wonder which article came first should they access
both - especially since mine will appear in print very
soon.) I will this matter rest understanding that it
took you several months to keep up your bargain to the
extent to which you have - you can't squeeze blood
from a turnip.You should also know that I have written notes to the
owners of others who material was previously featured
on your site without their consent. So if you still
possess any material that was not written entirely by
yourself, it should be removed. I will check your site
from time to time to ensure that you have not reverted
back to this kind of plagairism. If the weeks that
follow I should see any article on your site that
belongs to another I will inform them, and if need be
offer the services of my newly acquired attorney to
settle the matter.
Odu / Ese /Oriki etc.- we should not copyright.
Insight on the religion - we can copyright.Please begin to honor the hard work of others by
producing your own text ENTIRELY, as opposed to
borrowing, recycling or co-opting. This is unethical
and does not reflect Iwa-Pele.
Contact Michael Orta
Michael provided no response to this email. It is now July 2004. What a disgrace. What a pity. Please contact Michael and his cohorts at www.ochareo.com to express your outrage over stealing and lieing in the name of the Egun.
Michael Orta and His Henchmen
2475 East Slauson Avenue
Huntington Park, CA 90255
Phone: 323-585-2800
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