Cultures in contact have always borrowed from each other — minzoku shintô is a prime example of this. In the past, this wasn't a problem as each culture would adapt the borrowed idea to their own usage.

However, with the rise of commercialism and the concept of exclusivity of form and ideas, this borrowing has become problematic. Here are some guideliness that should govern your use of a cultural symbol.

1) As an insider (one who engages in the practices of a culture), you have the right to use cultural symbols in any way that is culturally appropriate — to be negotiated within the culture.

1a) The authenticity of any particular version of a cultural symbol is ALWAYS negotiated within a culture.

2) As an outsider (one who does not engage in the practices of a culture), you have a right to protect your product, based on cultural symbols, from other outsiders — copyright and/or trademark. However, you DO NOT have the right to interfere with any insider use of their culture symbol — see #1 above.

2a) Exclusivity of production of a product CAN NOT be claimed against any insider of a culture.

2b) The cultural authenticity of any commercial product CAN NOT be claimed, unless it has been negotiated with the particular culture — see #1a above.