US denies granting patents for Yoga 'asans'

New Delhi, Jun 5 (UNI) The United States today denied granting patents for yoga 'asans' and said patents have been granted on new and non-obvious devices that may be used in conjunction with yoga.

In a statement here, the US embassy said here that the US government has conducted a search of all patents issued and no US patent on yoga 'asans' have been identified.

''Recent media reports alleging that such patents exist are inaccurate. Although the US government is unaware of any US patents on the yoga, the US Patent and Trademark Office has granted patents on new and non-obvious devices that may be used in conjunction with yoga. However, those patents would not include any yoga 'aSans'.'' The embassy has given this information to the Commerce and Industry Ministry.

Earlier, media reports had said the US Patent and Trademark Office has issued 150 yoga-related copyrights, 134 patents on yoga accessories, and 2,315 yoga trademarks. Most of these patents have been obtained by people of Indian origin.

The Indian government had taken a strong view against these patents granted to yoga postures and had asked its mission in Washington to convey its protest over blatant misuse of traditional knowledge for commercial gains.

The Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) had written both to the Commerce Ministry and Indian Mission, setting the stage for challenging the patent on yoga.

The patented yoga 'kriyas', as enumerated in ancient texts, have been known for thousands of years and Indian challenge would be on a promise that a patent cannot be granted on something that is already known.

UNI