The plagiarism of Fernando Ubiergo

Two years ago we learned of the Mago de Oz plagiarism incident involving a song by Fernando Ubiergo, and I had the idea (I’m not sure it was a good one) of publishing a comparison of the lyrics of the two songs (something that is apparently illegal in Chile).

Now Mago de Oz’s crude defenders won’t stop grinning, and will make hay with this.

Because what happened in Antofagasta to the President of the SCD, Chile’s music copyright collecting society (an institution that must disappear), was ugly. So much so that he himself has decided to publish a statement on his official site:

With astonishment and deep sorrow, I have learned that the Press has reported that at a presentation given in Antofagasta to defend and make known the rights of Chile’s musicians, non-original software was used.
I must point out that neither that equipment nor the programs used belong to me, being the property of the SCD, who lent them to me to give the presentation.
In my opinion, the matter is embarrassing and of the utmost seriousness, and so I have requested, in my capacity as President of the Board of the SCD, an urgent meeting for this Monday, January 5, in order to learn the causes of and explanations for this regrettable episode, which exposes me in such an absurd way.
Depending on the explanations I am asking for, and given the seriousness of the matter, I will make an immediate decision, which I will communicate in an official Press release that same January 5.
Warm regards, and thank you
Fernando Ubiergo
SCD

I am an author too (in Chile, writing software is legally equivalent to writing a book, which I consider stupid), and as an artist I am outraged by the incident. The least I expect from Ubiergo and his henchmen is that they admit their mistake and carry out a public audit of their equipment, and of their advisers’ equipment. We would have been in for some big surprises, but that won’t happen now, because a weekend is more than enough to get the computers in order, isn’t it?

Ceterum censeo SCD esse delendam

image taken from El Nortero