“Indigenous weavers in Guatemala mobilize to defend their craft and cultural rights”, 8 Dec 16

…Indigenous weavers in Guatemala are challenging the appropriation of their identities by both national and transnational companies. On November…hundreds of indigenous weavers…present congress with a series of reforms that would lead to the legal protection of their intellectual property rights as weavers…According to…a lawyer with the Association of Mayan Lawyers…the women are seeking the recognition of their ancestral knowledge and acknowledgement of their work….“The proposal includes the concepts of the collective intellectual property rights,” said Castro. “And the recognition of the indigenous peoples as the authors and creators of their weavings.”…Guatemalan companies such as Maria’s Bags…has utilized Mayan designs without consulting communities…Guatemalan clothing designer Saul has also come under fire...The protest comes as weavers have seen the increased appropriation of their designs by companies and the introduction of computerized weavings, which threaten their livelihoods…Indigenous peoples across the globe have seen the appropriation of their sacred designs by transnational companies…