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March 22, 2005
Copyright on crack
"At issue: Can Choudhury take a sequence of two breathing exercises and 26 yoga poses from an ancient Indian practice, copyright it and control how it is practiced?"
An excellent idea, one that can help poverty-stricken teachers everywhere to a decent income. Even as we speak, I am rushing to the copyright office to get the rights to the word patchwriting, which I coined twelve years ago and which has gained wide currency. (Do note my metaphors of capital.) Anyone who wants to use that word from now on can pony up the royalities to yours truly.
Haven't coined a word? No worries, mate. Just think about your distinctive teacherly techniques, and get out there and turn them into property. Let's say you have some especially good techniques for leading class discussion. Copyright 'em! Then other teachers who use them will have to pay tribute to you. You learned these techniques from someone else, you say? Hey, has s/he gotten the copyright to them? If not, move fast! And contribute to Choudhury's legal fund; your retirement account could be at stake.
Stanford University Law School professor Paul Goldstein said a decision in Choudhury's favor would have "clear implications for any other activity that entails a combination of movement and environment," such as choreography or martial arts. "It could also have implications for basketball plays, or football plays, if it were decided that way."Adds Jim Harrison, a Sacramento attorney representing a group of yoga teachers and students who filed the lawsuit against Choudhury challenging his copyright claims, "If Bikram is successful, people will run to copyright bench-pressing and stepping."
Posted by senioritis at March 22, 2005 12:29 PM