News and Media
FSMTB INITIATES LITIGATION TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE MBLEx®
February 21, 2022
Contact: Debra Persinger, PhD
Executive Director, FSMTB
dpersinger@fsmtb.org/913.681.0380
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 21, 2022
FSMTB INITIATES LITIGATION TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE MBLEx®
OVERLAND PARK, Kansas – February 21, 2022 – The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) has initiated litigation in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas against Footy Rooty Development, Inc. D/B/A Footy Rooty Institute Houston, its officers, and other participating parties. The litigation was initiated by FSMTB, alleging copyright and trade secret infringement related to the intellectual property interests of the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx®).
Footy Rooty is a corporation that operates a network of massage training schools. During an investigation of suspected fraudulent testing, the Federation discovered the Defendants’ YouTube channel, containing videos of copyrighted MBLEx® items with the explicit intent of coaching individuals to pass the MBLEx® in a deceitful manner. With this lawsuit, the Federation is seeking to stop the Defendants’ ongoing harvesting and selling of the national licensing exam content.
“The FSMTB continually monitors websites, review courses, and educational programs to protect the integrity of the MBLEx®, the licensure and regulatory processes, as well as the public served through the regulation of the profession,” said Craig Knowles, FSMTB president. “We encourage anyone with knowledge of similar schemes to report the information to FSMTB.”
The Federation develops and administers the national licensing exam, the MBLEx®, that assesses competence in massage and bodywork in the United States and its territories. MBLEx® results are used by licensing agencies in 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and some cities in unregulated states.
FSMTB intends to vigorously pursue persons and entities found to violate the legal rights of the Federation. Questions regarding this litigation should be directed to the FSMTB Executive Director.
About FSMTB
Established in 2005, the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) is an autonomous, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization comprised of state regulatory boards and agencies that regulate the massage therapy profession. All revenue collected by the organization is used to enhance FSMTB programs, maintain and improve the quality of the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx®) and provide support to FSMTB Member Boards in fulfilling their responsibility of protecting the public. For more information, please visit www.fsmtb.org.
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