Former Employee Triumphs in Landmark Fitness Copyright Case
A former employee of celebrity fitness coach Tracy Anderson has secured a significant legal victory after being accused of stealing choreography to launch a competing business. Megan Roup, the Los Angeles-based trainer behind The Sculpt Society (TSS), won her court battle against Anderson earlier this month, concluding a bitter copyright dispute that spanned nearly three years, according to court documents obtained by the Daily Mail.
Copyright Claims Dismissed by Appeals Court
In 2022, Anderson accused Roup of copying elements from her TA Method choreography, specifically from 19 of her dance-cardio DVDs, to create her own workout platform. Roup's legal team countered that Anderson's fitness empire is a results-driven system rather than creative choreography, arguing it should not be eligible for copyright protection.
On February 17, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals firmly rejected Anderson's copyright claims, warning that granting such protection would create an unfair monopoly over basic fitness routines. The court emphasized that copyright law protects expression, not systems or processes, even when those systems involve dance movements.
Legal Arguments and Statements
Nathaniel Bach, Roup's attorney at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, stated to the Daily Mail: 'We are grateful for the Ninth Circuit's ruling affirming Megan's and The Sculpt Society's copyright win. The panel's ruling validates what we have maintained all along - that fitness belongs to everyone and cannot be restricted through misuse of the copyright laws.'
Anderson's counsel, Stanley Panikowski at DLA Piper LLP, responded that the court's 'narrow decision does not concern the vast majority of Tracy's choreography,' according to The Fashion Law. He added that his client has 'advanced and evolved' her routines over the years and 'will continue to advocate for choreographers regardless of whether their works are performed on a stage, in a music video or in a fitness studio.'
Background of the Rival Businesses
Anderson launched the Tracy Anderson Method in 2006, developing a signature program that combines choreography, cardio, and full-body fitness routines. Her method claims to help anyone achieve strong, lean muscles regardless of genetic predisposition, and she has worked with numerous celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lopez, and Alessandra Ambrosio.
Roup, who worked for Anderson for six years before parting ways in 2017, launched The Sculpt Society that same year. Her app blends sculpting and toning exercises with accessible dance cardio that requires no equipment, promising a 'fun, effective workout.' The platform quickly gained popularity among both everyday fitness enthusiasts and Hollywood stars such as Sofia Richie, Martha Hunt, and Shanina Shaik.
Broader Legal Claims and Dismissals
Anderson's lawsuit extended beyond copyright infringement, including allegations of breach of contract, unfair competition, and violations of the Lanham Act. She claimed Roup had access to her copyrighted fitness videos during her employment and subsequently copied 'the choreography movements, sequences and routines' as well as 'organizational structure, format and aesthetic elements' from her workout DVDs.
The defense maintained that Anderson's method consists of unprotectable ideas rather than copyrightable expression. In June 2024, the district court dismissed Anderson's copyright and breach-of-contract claims, finding no legal basis for them. The Ninth Circuit recently upheld this decision, also throwing out claims that Roup violated the Lanham Act through false advertising.
Final Legal Determinations
Anderson's final claim alleging violations of California's Unfair Competition Law (UCL) was similarly dismissed. She argued that Roup breached confidentiality by using trade secrets to develop TSS, which she claimed competes directly with the TA Method. However, the court ruled that Anderson failed to demonstrate she personally relied on Roup's allegedly misleading statements, a necessary requirement for competitors suing under the UCL.
The court noted that reasonable consumers are unlikely to be influenced by general statements about how Roup developed her fitness program. This comprehensive legal victory for Roup establishes important precedent regarding the copyrightability of fitness routines and choreography within the exercise industry.
