Maya Council Files 41 Complaints Over Unauthorized Use of Traditions

Quintana Roo, Mexico — The Great Maya Council of Quintana Roo has filed 41 infringement complaints with the National Copyright Institute (Indautor) against companies accused of commercially exploiting Maya cultural traditions without authorization.

The legal actions were brought under the Federal Law for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples, which took effect in January 2022. The law prohibits the unauthorized commercial appropriation of expressions, designs, and traditions belonging to indigenous communities.

Indautor confirmed the administrative proceedings in response to transparency request UAJ/UT/0315/2026, with cases accumulated since the law came into force. The number of cases filed per year is as follows:

• 2022: 5 cases
• 2023: 21 cases
• 2024: 3 cases
• 2025: 10 cases
• 2026: 2 cases

Aside from the case involving the Xcaret eco-park, which reached the Supreme Court, the names of the companies have not been disclosed. The council said the confidentiality is necessary because the cases are still being processed and no final rulings have been issued.

In explaining why it would not release more details, Indautor said: “These proceedings have not yet concluded, and for that reason it is impossible to provide the requester with the information requested, including the plaintiffs, resolutions, precautionary measures, rulings, sanctions, withdrawals, appeals, or other legal challenges filed.”

The dispute with Xcaret set a public precedent because it reached federal courts over the commercialization of Maya symbols. Although a court lifted a definitive suspension that had barred the resort from using indigenous symbolism, the court has not yet issued a final ruling on the substance of the case.