2-6-2004 Bikram Master in Court Battle Over Yoga Positions
SAN FRANCISCO - Yoga master Bikram Choudhury is bent out of shape. The eccentric Calcutta-born yogi who popularized the form of yoga known as "Bikram" is being sued over his claims that he owns the copyright to a 26-posture series used in the practice, which is done in a heated room.
Choudhury, who is in his late 50s, has sent cease and desist letters to more than 100 Bikram yoga schools and teachers, accusing them of violating his copyright and trademark by employing instructors that weren't trained by him and deviating from his strict teachings, according to James Harrison, a lawyer for the Open Source Yoga Unity.
In response, the Open Source Yoga Unity, a non-profit collective whose members live in California, Texas, Florida, Arizona, Rhode Island and Canada, has sued the Choudhury in San Francisco federal court.
The suit asks the court to rule that his copyright and trademark claims are unenforceable because his series of poses stem from postures that have been in public use for centuries.
"No one can own a style of yoga," Harrison told Reuters on Thursday.
SAN FRANCISCO - Yoga master Bikram Choudhury is bent out of shape. The eccentric Calcutta-born yogi who popularized the form of yoga known as "Bikram" is being sued over his claims that he owns the copyright to a 26-posture series used in the practice, which is done in a heated room.
Choudhury, who is in his late 50s, has sent cease and desist letters to more than 100 Bikram yoga schools and teachers, accusing them of violating his copyright and trademark by employing instructors that weren't trained by him and deviating from his strict teachings, according to James Harrison, a lawyer for the Open Source Yoga Unity.
In response, the Open Source Yoga Unity, a non-profit collective whose members live in California, Texas, Florida, Arizona, Rhode Island and Canada, has sued the Choudhury in San Francisco federal court.
The suit asks the court to rule that his copyright and trademark claims are unenforceable because his series of poses stem from postures that have been in public use for centuries.
"No one can own a style of yoga," Harrison told Reuters on Thursday.
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