Date:08/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/08/stories/2007060804001300.htm

National

No patents on yoga asanas, says U.S.

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The U.S. on Thursday said that its patent office had not granted patents to yoga postures but only to certain new and "non-obvious'' devices.

In a statement issued here after reports that there was a move to patent yoga `asanas' (postures) in America, the U.S. government said it was unaware of any patents on yoga.

It said the government had conducted a search of all patents issued and informed the Indian Trade and Commerce Ministry of the position, the statement added.

Reports inaccurate

"Recent reports alleging that such patents exist are inaccurate,'' the statement clarified. Earlier reports suggested that an American yoga teacher of Indian origin had been granted copyright for his method of performing yoga. Subsequently, the Indian Government had taken up the issue with the U.S.

The Union Trade and Commerce Ministry had asked the Indian High Commission to take up the matter with the U.S. Government, following a letter by the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH).