Oral argument of the day: Bikram’s Yoga College of India v. Evolation Yoga

It is interesting that the 1952 Patent Act sets forth what is patent eligible in 35 U.S.C. §101 but does not expressly recite any exceptions. In contrast, the 1976 Copyright Act sets forth what is copyrightable in 17 U.S.C. §102(a) and Congress did expressly recite exceptions in 17 U.S.C. §102(b).

Today’s oral argument is a few years old. It is the Ninth Circuit oral argument of Bikram’s Yoga College of India v. Evolation Yoga, 803 F.3d 1032 (9th Cir. 2015). The case addressed whether a sequence of twenty-six yoga poses and two breathing exercises is entitled to copyright protection. Because the case was argued at the Ninth Circuit, there is video of the argument.

You can read the Ninth Circuit opinion here: [Link].

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