A Judge Dismisses the Claim for Misuse of the term "Iyengar"
- A ruling recognizes the right to use the term "Iyengar" because it is necessary to describe a style of yoga
- Any teacher or specialized center in this style can freely use the term without authorization or payment
A ruling of the Commercial Court No. 3 of Madrid dismisses the claim filed by the Spanish Association of Yoga Iyengar (AEYI) against the International Association of Yoga Teachers Sananda (AIPYS), Yoga Center Madrid SL, and against Mr. Ramón Clares for undue use of the "Iyengar" brand and creates a precedent for any natural or legal person to use the term "iyengar" in educational and educational fields.
The sentence arises from a lawsuit filed on December 7, 2016 by the AEYI against the International Association of Yoga Teachers Sananda (AIPYS), Yoga Center Madrid SL, and against Ramón Clares for alleged misuse of the brand "Iyengar" to offer classes, workshops, intensive courses and training courses for instructors and yoga teachers.
The lawsuit led the parties to a trial held on January 9, 2018, with the judgment published on March 22, 2018, in which the judge recognizes the defendants' right to use, without having to request authorization. nor pay any amount, the term "iyengar" in the framework of formative and analogous actions. The judge has considered that the defendant's use of the term "iyengar" to give workshops, classes and training in this style of yoga, was not unlawful or infringed the rights of the AEYI.
As a result of the court's decision, a precedent has been set and now any teacher or yoga center can use the term "iyengar" without having to ask AEYI for authorization or, therefore, pay any amount.
After this sentence, the International Association of Yoga Teachers Sananda (AIPYS), Yoga Center Madrid S.L., and Ramón Clares will continue using this term to describe one of the styles of yoga that they offer in their classes and training programs. Also, instructors and teachers trained in this center may continue to use the term "iyengar" without fear of being sued.
