Although there is no doubt that yoga has deep roots in India – a country where the practice is believed to have seen the light for over 5,000 years – the recent news that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to take over this hugely popular discipline through some kind of geographical indication came as a surprise to many. The article discusses India’s efforts to assert control over yoga, which has long been practiced globally. It highlights the country’s move toward geographical indication (GI) protection, echoing previous attempts to safeguard traditional knowledge like turmeric. The article critiques the push for trademark and copyright over yoga, particularly through figures like Bikram Choudhury. It explores the complexities of yoga’s global popularity and whether a GI or other intellectual property protections could be successfully applied to yoga. For further details, refer to the full article here
