Media raises questions about the use and protection of cultural identity-based descriptors in corporate names.set up film and TV production company IndigiFilm in JuneRedvers received a notice of trademark infringement from Davis’ IndigiStudios in August 2022, detailing that the American company — which filed a U.S.
Davis, however, denies having any issue with Indigenous communities using the “Indigi-” prefix in their corporate names.via email. “I have spent my entire professional career promoting economic development by and for Indigenous people. I would be the last person to keep any Indigenous person from their entrepreneurial pursuits.”Davis, who is of the Cherokee nation, notes that the protected trademark class sought by IndigiStudios only applies to film and TV production.
“It is very challenging to claim exclusive rights in a descriptive term or abbreviation,” explains Lavine. The attorney gives the example of trademarks that begin with “enviro-.”