Controversy
See also: Bionicle#M.C4.81ori_language_controversyMany of the earlier names given to BIONICLE characters came from Polynesian lore and carry many of the same meanings as their Polynesian counterparts. The intention of the BIONICLE development team was only to adopt words that had appealed to them and not to cause any offence, as use of foreign words had become a common practice amongst companies worldwide (English, for example, has gained much popularity amongst Japanese companies). The reaction from the Māori people, however, was that the use of their language by a Western company was an offense to their culture. A suit against the LEGO group was subsequently filed by a group of Māori activists, accusing them of "cultural and linguistic piracy". BIONICLE characters created since then have mostly been given names that are not native to other real world cultures. One such exception is the character Umbra, whose name means "shadow" in Latin.
Read more about this topic: List Of Bionicle Characters
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