Golden Temple Eugene 2010

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What’s in a name?
Plenty, as shown by the legal battles over who can use “yogi” on their labels

By Sherri Buri McDonald

The Register-Guard

Published: Sunday, Nov 28, 2010 05:00AM

Six years after the death of spiritual leader Yogi Bhajan, three legal battles are under way in Oregon and California over the use of the name “yogi” in food products and ingredients.

In the late 1960s, India-born Yogi Bhajan founded a Sikh community in the United States, which created Golden Temple, a cereal and tea producer in Eugene that became an anchor of the local natural foods industry.

In May, Golden Temple sold its cereal division to Hearthside Food Solutions, a manufacturer based in Illinois. Now Golden Temple officials say their sole focus is on growing Yogi Tea, a natural tea business with 50 employees in Springfield and about 100 employees in Europe.

But the outcomes of the trademark disputes could throw a wrench in those plans.

For instance, if Yogi Bhajan’s widow, Bibiji, prevails in arbitration in Portland with Golden Temple over trademark issues, she will license the brand to another tea manufacturer — not Golden Temple, her attorney Surjit Soni said.

“Golden Temple will not be allowed to use it,” he said.

A company’s trademarks are a key part of its value, which is why companies vigorously defend them.

“The brand and its marks are an important asset that has a lot of value in terms of what it stands for to the consumers, its awareness in the marketplace and the trade, meaning retailers and distributors,” said Bob Burke, principal of Natural Products Consulting in Andover, Mass.“To the degree that somebody is valuing the business, it’s going to be more than just what are the sales, what are the profits, but (also) how strong are their brands? How recognizable are they, and what consumers do they appeal to?”

More in the article.

Golden Temple suits merged
A judge sets a May 23 trial date for the case that claims wrongdoing by managers overseeing the company

By Sherri Buri McDonald

The Register-Guard

Published: Saturday, Dec 11, 2010 05:02AM

A Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge ordered Friday that two separate lawsuits alleging wrongdoing by the managers overseeing Golden Temple, a Eugene natural foods business, should move forward as one.

Judge Leslie Roberts granted a motion by ministers of the Sikh religious community founded by Yogi Bhajan to consolidate their lawsuit with one filed by Oregon Attorney General John Kroger.

Both lawsuits, filed earlier this year in Multnomah County Circuit Court, allege that “Unto Infinity,” a four-member board charged with overseeing the religious community’s assets after Yogi Bhajan’s death in 2004, broke their fiduciary duties to safeguard the assets of the Sikh Dharma religious organization. The lawsuits allege that in a 2007 corporate restructuring, Unto Infinity approved the transfer of assets belonging to the Sikh Dharma religious organization to Golden Temple Management, a group of six Golden Temple managers, which unjustly enriched those managers.

Judge Roberts also set a May 23 trial date for the consolidated case. The trial date for the ministers’ case previously was set for April.

Attorney John McGrory, who represents the Sikh Dharma ministers, said his clients “are very pleased with the court’s decision.”

In their motion to consolidate, the ministers argued that combining the lawsuits would conserve judicial resources and avoid inconsistent results.

Unto Infinity’s attorney, Gary Roberts, said his clients “are gratified that the court would not delay the trial significantly.”

“We can live with a one-month delay,” he said.“Consolidation will save the (Unto Infinity) defendants a lot of money because they will not have to have two long trials and two sets of depositions.”

Attorney General spokesman Tony Green said that the judge’s order on Friday was oral and that Kroger’s office would have no comment until a written order is issued.

India-born Yogi Bhajan brought his own brand of Sikhism, which incorporated kundalini yoga, to the United States in the late 1960s.

Six years after Yogi Bhajan’s death, various factions of the community are fighting multiple legal disputes, which will determine the future of the religious organization and its businesses, including a tea business that employs about 150 people in Eugene and Springfield.

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Note the language "Yogi Bhajan brought his own brand of Sikhism, which incorporated kundalini yoga, to the United States in the late 1960s."
It is good that the distinction between the Sikh religion and Yogi Bhajan's teachings is being made.

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Although depressing, I find this news less than surprising in light (and I mean LIGHT)of what the most enlightened Rose Lotus has provided through her forum/internet book at the Wacky World of Yogi Bhajan. Just google the words Wacky World of Yogi Bhajan and you'll learn about the twisted world of the fake Yogi as provided by Rose and several closely connected folks. Excellent information and support for those who's lives have been affected by the Indian mid level civil servant who saw a way to capitalize on the weakness in others. Even using the word "Sikh" with what was basically a cult in the worst way, and at times engaged in immoral and illegal activities, far from the great and honorable history of Sikhism is an affront to that noble tradition. May the light of truth shine brightly on this dark world that the Bhajan the exploiter and those who followed knowingly created. May true everlasting peace be the reward for those who were exploited and in many cases destroyed. And may all have their eyes opened so as to stop this type of exploitation before it can cause so much damage to not only those directly involved but to all people everywhere. Some say none of us are free until all of us are free. May all break the chains of their bondage and exploitation, and live free in the light of truth, justice, and respect for all of the universe.

Read Rose Lotus's Wacky World of Yogi Bhajan if you have been involved. I promise you there is truth and support there for you.

Monitoring a cult like Yogi Bhajan's has been made easier by the internet. If the access to information about Yogi Bhajan had been available 35 years ago like it is now he would not have made so much money nor had so many victims.
THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE.