Pete writes “The San Francisco Chronicle reports here that ‘Bikram Choudhury, the Beverly Hills yoga master, copyrighted, trademarked and franchised his poses, breathing techniques and dialogue, creating the first chain of its kind.
He also hired lawyers who set loose a flurry of cease-and-desist letters warning yoga teachers… not to teach his yoga or anything “derivative” if they haven’t graduated from his $5,000-per-person training program….’ If someone busts you for using the moves, Choudhury will demand that you pony up $150k per move.
Watch how you breathe out there, folks.”
Perplexing Copyright
Do copyright cases like this Yoga case leave you perplexed? In March, Jerry Stephens, a librarian with the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals will be moderating a discussion of the book Copyright’s Highway for the Librarian’s Book Club.
If you would like to discuss copyright issues with fellow librarians and learn more about copyright you are welcome to join us. Details are at the LBC website.