A user on dubstepforum.com has described the events which explain how Zomby, British future garage and dubstep producer, stole large parts of an original loop written by Reark back in 2007. Here is how Reark states it happened:

1. I wrote this loop back in October 2007, entirely by myself, posting it on myspace.

2. Zomby, with whom I was communicating, hears the loop and offers to collaborate to finish it. I agree and send him the original Reason song file + Rex file of the vocals.

3. Zomby posts the loop on his myspace without crediting me, I complain, he takes it down.

4. In the next months Zomby suggests where the track might get released. I continue to remind him that it’s a collaboration.

5. Without my knowledge, a slightly revised version is aired by Mary Anne Hobbs on Radio 1, you can hear Zomby’s revised drum variation from 1:06 — 1:36. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDLXRtbeLg0 This is the only significant change he’s made to the track. The rest is looping, and some slight editing of the vocal cuts.

6. The track gets released on 4AD in May 2011, I notice in August 2011. I complain first to Zomby with no effect, then to 4AD, to whom I send this loop plus an e-mail sent from me to Zomby with the original Reason song file from October 2007. 4AD accept my evidence and change credits to include my name.

Zomby has been known for a less than polite attitude online, with death threats against DSF.com members which later led to his ban on that website, along with being known to miss gigs with absolutely no warning or apparent reason. Despite all this, I’d argue this takes the biscuit – rude online presence is something I can live with and gig-skipping is a fault I can tolerate, but downright thievery and lack of due acknowledgement is not something I’ll allow from a professional.

Whilst this does seem indelibly incriminating, we have to wait for Zomby’s side of the story to emerge before jumping – or stepping – to conclusions.