Look what is happening?

Bikram Choudhary, an Indian migrated to land of riches --- America, has become fitness superstar in America. Why? Because he followed the advice of US Justice Department: ‘Welcome to America. When in Rome, do what Romans do. Make your yoga copyrighted, protect your intellectual property.’ Yes, meet Bikram Choudhary who has taken copyright protection for his style of yoga --- Why? Because, according to him, it’s the American way. He teaches yoga to number of Americans which includes Celebrities too. He obtained first U.S. Copyright in 1979 for his book --- Bikram’s Beginning Yoga Class followed by Trademark protection for the name of his company --- Bikram’s Yoga College of India. In 2002, he successfully obtained copyright to his style of yoga – 26 poses and two breathing exercises. In 2003, a group of yoga teachers sued Bikram contending that Bikram’s couldn’t copyright yoga. In April 2005 a federal judge ruled that Bikram’s copyright was legitimate and enforceable. According to Judge Phyllis Hamilton’s ruling, you can get a copyright on a ‘compilation’ of information that’s in the public domain, as long as it’s “assembled in a sufficiently creative fashion.” However, both parties settled out of the court before the case went to trial. Bikram today derives a handsome income from the global yoga empire what he has built and copyrighted and imparts yoga training all across the world. Bikram says his copyright is essential to protecting his business, which he predicts – with his usual flair for the dramatic – to be answer to all of America’s woes: bad health from too much smoking, too much drinking, too much stress.

Visit Bikram Choudhary at http://www.bikramyoga.com