Theft of cultural elements for one’s own use, commodification, or profit — including symbols, art, language, customs, etc. — often without understanding, acknowledgement or respect for its value in the original culture. Results from the assumption of a dominant (i.e. white) culture’s right to take other cultural elements.
Colours of Resistance. (n.d.). Cultural appropriation. Retrieved from http://www.coloursofresistance.org/definitions/cultural- appropriation/.
Taking intellectual property, traditional knowledge, cultural expressions or artifacts from someone else’s culture without permission.
Scafidi, Susan. Who Owns Culture? Appropriation and Authenticity in American Law. Rutgers University Press, 2005.