GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.255
TO BE ANSWERED ON 13-08-2007

U.S. PATENT ON YOGA ASANAS

255. SHRIMATI. N. P. DURGA:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that the U.S. Patents and Trade Mark Office granted patent on yoga asanas (postures) in America;
(b) if so, whether the U. S. Patent Office can grant patent rights, when yoga is India's traditional knowledge and as per conventions, traditional knowledge cannot be patented;
(c) whether Government have taken up this matter with the US administration; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES
(KAPIL SIBAL)

(a) A search of the database of the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) indicates that no patent has been granted on yoga postures per se.

(b) Patents granted to products, processes or methods, which are already in the domain of public knowledge, are not legally valid. As yogic postures are well known for ages, no valid patent can be granted to yogic postures.

(c) No, Sir.

(d) Does not arise.