Overland Park, KS. The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) has initiated litigation in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey against the Academy of Oriental Therapy LLC., a massage therapy school, and certain identified individuals, alleging copyright and trade secret infringement related to the intellectual property interests of the FSMTB’s Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx).
FSMTB is a not-for-profit federation whose membership consists of the massage therapy licensing boards in the U.S., its territories and the District of Columbia. FSMTB provides programs and services to its member governmental boards that are created and empowered to protect the public through regulation of the profession. One such program includes the MBLEx, used by at least 42 states as one component in licensure eligibility determinations by the respective states.
FSMTB monitors websites, review courses and educational programs to protect the integrity of the MBLEx and the licensure process, as well as the public served through the regulation of the profession. Through its due diligence, FSMTB discovered an apparent exam item harvesting scheme operated by the school and its principals and has initiated the referenced litigation. On Oct. 28, 2013, the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey granted FSMTB a seizure and impoundment order, permitting FSMTB to seize technology and documentation potentially related to the scheme.
The integrity of the examination program and the licensure process must be protected and FSMTB plans 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.
The federation’s mission is to support its member boards in their work to ensure that the practice of massage therapy is provided to the public in a safe and effective manner. For more information on the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, visit www.fsmtb.org.