Tracy Anderson Faces Setback As Court Rejects Copyright Claim On Fitness Routine
A federal judge dealt a setback to celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson this week, ruling that her renowned exercise "method"
By: : Daniel
Update: 2024-06-18 11:00 GMT
Tracy Anderson Faces Setback As Court Rejects Copyright Claim On Fitness Routine
A federal judge dealt a setback to celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson this week, ruling that her renowned exercise "method" cannot be Copyrighted.
On Wednesday, US District Judge Philip Gutierrez made the decision in a lawsuit brought by Anderson against Megan Roup, founder of the Sculpt Society. Anderson had filed the lawsuit in July 2022 in California's Central District, alleging copyright infringement and breach of contract. The fitness guru claimed that Roup had copied her signature workout, known as the "Tracy Anderson Method" or "TA Method," which is a dance-based fitness routine.
Judge Gutierrez's ruling stated, "The Court finds that Anderson's routines are clearly an unprotectable process, system, and/or methodology." He cited previous court decisions that established exercises as processes aimed at achieving physical results, which cannot be copyrighted even if they are original.
Anderson's lawyer, Gina Durham, expressed that her client intends to proceed with the trial on a breach of contract claim despite the copyright ruling. Durham emphasized Anderson's commitment to defending her work, developed over decades through extensive research and investment.
Responding to the ruling, Roup's attorney, Nathaniel Bach, hailed it as a victory, emphasizing that the TA Method cannot be copyrighted. He underscored the broader implications for the fitness industry, asserting that physical exercises and dance cardio cannot be owned by any single entity.
The legal dispute stems from Roup founding the Sculpt Society in 2017 after leaving Anderson's fitness company, where she had been employed for over five years. Anderson's lawsuit alleges that Roup replicated choreography, organizational structure, and aesthetic elements from 19 of Anderson's fitness DVDs, released between 2008 and 2014.
Roup has denied these allegations and sought to dismiss the lawsuit. The case is scheduled to proceed to trial later this year solely on the breach of contract claim.