The United States administration on Thursday has denied granting patents to India on “yoga positions” as reported in a section of media.
Ruling out such patents, an US embassy statement said that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) had granted patents on “new and non-obvious devices” that may be used in conjunction with yoga. But there were no patents on yoga positions.
The official response came in the wake of reports that US-based India yoga expert Bikram Choudhury obtaining United States patents on various yoga positions, which are being practiced in India since time immemorial.
The report created a stir in the capital as it was seen as another United States attempt to take away the Indian traditional medicine a la the turmeric and neem style.

Facts on row
The department of Indian systems of medicine and the union commerce ministry approached the Indian embassy in Washington to obtain the facts on the controversy.
The United States embassy said, “Although the US Government is unaware of any US patents on yoga, there are patents on new and non-obvious devices that may be used in conjunction with yoga.”
“However, those patents would not include any yoga positions. This information has been provided to the Indian ministry of commerce and industry,” it added.