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May 20, 2005
Mohawk Language Sells to Microsoft
Mohawk Language Sells to Microsoft : Thunderbay IMC
The Canadian government Department of Indian Affairs band council in Kahnawake is launching a "language" auction. They're selling the Mohawk language to the highest bidder. They're signing an agreement with multi-national corporation, Microsoft, to "co-develop an innovative Kanienkehaka language project"! Section 4- Ownership of Work By Microsoft; License To Microsoft Materials states as follows: "The Mohawks" agree to dissolve all rights that we may have to any and all copyrights in the work and assigns all rights, title and interests over to Microsoft including but not limited to . the right to sue for infringements which may occur before the date of this Agreement, and to collect and retain damages from any such infringements.." A Maori student visiting from New Zealand warned, "Language is a sacred thing not to be appropriated by Microsoft. This is how they co-opt our culture. Microsoft will make a lot of money on this. Now you have no river, no land, you don't even have your own language. Your language is your essence of being and they are stealing it". She said that the song of one of their people has been copyrighted by a football team down there. Now they can't write about it unless they pay money to the football team.
Posted by jason at May 20, 2005 03:58 PM
Comments
Call them Esau.
Posted by: Wodja at May 20, 2005 08:56 PM