Do you want to stay up to date with the latest news? Follow us on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Final Fantasy XIV is in the middle of a controversy due to Far Northern Attire, a pack of cosmetic items sold for $18 USD. It includes various winter garments that were not seen by the Sami peoples, a culture spread across various regions of Finland, Norway, Sweden and more countries.
Áslat Holmberg, president of the Sami Council, sent a message to Square Enix to demand the withdrawal of such content, as they consider it to be a cultural appropriation. This is due to the fact that the outfits recover elements and are inspired by traditional Sami expressions.
Through a statement, the Sami Council assured that the elements represented in Final Fantasy XIV are the property of their people. So it accuses Square Enix and its MMO of violating their copyrights. For such reason, they ask them to take down the content as a sign of respect.
"Our cultural property rights are not theoretical. They are protected and protectable under intellectual property laws, which are generally harmonised throughout the world. Square Enix, as a media company, is highly aware of intellectual property laws and has no excuse for this blatant violation of Sámi cultural property," Holmberg said.
He added that the content is harmful to the traditions of his people. He assured that the meaning of their costumes is not purely aesthetic, as it is strongly linked to their identity and history. He singled out Square Enix for not respecting all this and for appropriating their culture without prior permission.
"By creating this product, Square Enix has allowed their 41 million players to dress up as a Sámi people, clothe themselves in the Sámi identity without our consent, and contribute to the erosion of our culture," added the Council's manager.
Holmberg accepted that the video game industry is becoming more inclusive and that they, as indigenous people, are open to possible collaborations with entertainment companies. However, he stressed that Square Enix's ways were not the right ones.
"There is a proper and appropriate way to establish, maintain, and enforce these collaborations to ensure that all necessary elements are fulfilled," Holmberg concluded. As of this writing, Square Enix has not commented on the matter.
🚫 The Saami Council demand @SquareEnix to immediately remove the Final Fantasy XIV costume set “Far Northern Attire”! These elements are Sámi property and Square Enix has infringed on our rights
— The Saami Council (@SaamiCouncil) February 16, 2023
More info: https://t.co/eeRt13chx0 pic.twitter.com/l4CyQfXd0E
In case you missed it: Xbox Game Pass: Popular title Valheim coming soon to the service
In this situation, we can see different opinions and perspectives that different people have been expressing on this issue. But Square Enix's response is that we have to wait for now to know what kind of solution they will give to this problem.
What are your thoughts regarding this issue? Let us know in the comments!
Comments
Best
New