The Los Angeles Times reports that The Walt Disney Company has recently dropped its bid to trademark the name “Dia de los Muertos,” which was the working title of the new Pixar film currently under development.
In a statement, a Disney spokesperson said:
“Disney’s trademark filing was intended to protect any potential title for our film and related activities. It has since been determined that the title of the film will change and therefore we are withdrawing our trademark filing.”
The trademark filing was widely criticized with many viewing it as a major corporation trying to establish “ownership” of an “important cultural event,” according to Time Magazine. There was even a petition to stop the filing on the website change.org, which, as of Wednesday, had 19,500 signatures, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Grace Sesma, the petition’s creator wrote:
“Our spiritual traditions are for everyone, not for companies like Walt Disney to trademark and exploit,”
“I am deeply offended and dismayed that a family-oriented company like Walt Disney would seek to own the rights to something that is the rightful heritage of the people of Mexico.”
The new film, with director Lee Unkrich and producer Darla K. Anderson, is currently in development. No release date, or title, has been formally announced.
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