Far Northern Attire

[Hurlstone]

Being fair, the behavior of the group makes it challenging to have much empathy in this situation. Of course people have a right to comment how their culture is portrayed. This group was free to use the release of this outfit in a positive way, opening up educational opportunities for a culture many people probably don't even know exists. What better launching board than a popular global entertainment product!?

Going to the group's Twitter, they don't even seem to find the outfit to be bad representation or offensive. Instead they have a Gif saying SquareEnix has a lot of money, demanding that they remove the outfit (or give them money, essentially).

Twitter shakedowns where there appears to be no legal leg to stand upon aren't the most endearing ways to get people to appreciate your culture. As an attorney, it would be a legal nightmare to even attempt to codify IP rights to a culture on such a broad scale to include basic clothing, which is why such rights do not seem to presently exist in regards to global IP despite attempts by some groups to advocate for them.

Moreover, there isn't a legal right or requirement for any culture to give their seal of approval before it is represented in media. A country can ban media it finds problematic. A cultural community can choose not to support a product and speak out against representation it doesn't agree with. But no cultural group can require that it be immune to critique or interpretation on a global scale, or require that they have to have a say in how they are represented in all products, or are entitled to money for any product even vaguely featuring an aspect of the culture.

Oh I do agree there, I feel that money is the ultimate goal here given how they are presenting the issue and I doubt much will come from this either way. Still those from Sami culture have every right to comment on such aspects, even if this specific councils goal may not be as noble as they present it. As I said I do not think there is anything particularly grievous about this situation, but even now many fictional worlds will still use cultural aspects in misguided or even outright racist ways. Just look at how the treatment of goblins is being delt with in another magical world…

My comment was more aimed at the fact that aveyond always seems to lack any empathy for those they may disagree with, no matter the topic. I feel that is just a sad way to approach things, especially when it comes to real life issues like this. Not everything deserves a forked tongue.