New York Yoga Studio Settles Copyright Infringement Suit

A New York chain of yoga studios has agreed to stop offering hot yoga classes patterned after Bikram Yoga.

Yoga to the People was accused by Bikram of copyright infringement.

The chain has agreed to stop using the Bikram sequence of postures by Feb. 15.

But the chain’s founder told The New York Times he will not be leaving the hot yoga business. Greg Gumucio said he’s working on new postures that also will use high temperature rooms.

The suit charged that the sequence of 26 postures and two breathing exercises performed in a 105-degree room were the intellectual property of their founder, Bikram Choudhury.

A Copyright Office ruling supported Gumucio’s position. However, it still required him to fight the matter in court.