Biswajit Sarkar Blog >Trademark> Disney Faces Backlash Over Its “Hakuna Matata” Trademark
Disney Faces Backlash Over Its “Hakuna Matata” Trademark

Disney Faces Backlash Over Its “Hakuna Matata” Trademark

Following the dissatisfaction shown by the Fijian people with the trademark “Bula,” their national greeting, which was registered by a coffee shop in Florida, the Kenyan people are expressing their displeasure with Walt Disney’s trademark “Hakuna Matata,” which was registered for Lion King merchandise.

The Swahili word “Hakuna Matata” simply means “no issues” or “no worries” and is widely used in East Africa.

However, in the rest of the world, the phrase is well-known as the theme song of the Lion King, and Walt Disney registered the phrase in 1994 to prevent it from being printed on T-shirts.

By claiming possession of the expression, some Kenyan newspapers have accused the business of plagiarizing Kenyan culture.

Several organisations have voiced their displeasure with Disney’s decision, including the fact that it was made with a particular corporate purpose in mind and only applies to T-shirts. Some also likened it to trademarking the words “good morning” and “good evening,” claiming that they are everyday phrases that no company can possess.

Petition signatures are now being collected around the world to prevent Disney from claiming ownership of the terms. This would most likely serve as a wake-up call for African governments to take more aggressive measures to safeguard African identity.

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