Posted on 12/19/2018 9:35:45 AM PST by EdnaMode
More than 50,000 people have signed a petition accusing Disney of colonialism and robbery after it trademarked the Swahili phrase hakuna matata.
The expression means no problem in Swahili, which is spoken across east Africa and is a national language of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The petition, which calls on Disney to drop its trademark, precedes the release of the companys motion capture remake of The Lion King next summer, which will be voiced by Beyoncé, Donald Glover and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
The phrase was popularised in 1982 by the Kenyan band Them Mushrooms, whose platinum-selling single Jambo Bwana (Hello, Mister) featured the phrase hakuna matata. It was later featured in the 1994 version of the Lion King, which spawned a hit musical and became one of Disneys most valuable franchises. The film included the song Hakuna Matata, written by Elton John and Tim Rice.
Disney was granted a US trademark in 2003, protecting use of the phrase on clothing or footwear.
Shelton Mpala, who created the petition, accused the company of appropriation. Disney cant be allowed to trademark something that it didnt invent, he wrote. The petition has so far been signed by more than 52,000 people.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
Thanks. That’s a really good point.
Is apple a common term? I see them every day at the fruit stand, however the trademark looks different than the other “Apple”.
Come on people, use common sense. This is about product association, not the actual letters and common usage.
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