12 Jan 2012

University sues hypnotherapist over psychology test

1:17 pm on 12 January 2012

An American university has filed a lawsuit against a New Zealand hypnotherapist for breach of copyright after he published what it describes as cheat sheet for one of its psychology tests.

The University of Minnesota says its Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) has been widely used for decades by psychologists and employers to identify personality disorders and screen applicants for sensitive jobs.

Napier-based hypnotherapist Andrew Dobson says he published a similar test, freely supplied to him over the internet, as a means of self analysis.

He says he's removed information about the test from his website, but says he and his web host are now facing fines of up to $500,000.

Mr Dobson says he can't understand why the university has proceeded with legal action now that he's complied with its request to remove the material.

University of Minnesota chief legal officer Mark Rotenberg says the lawsuit was filed after Mr Dobson repeatedly removed and republished the copyright material on his website over a period of several weeks.

Mr Rotenberg says the university has pursued legal action several times in the past to protect the MMPI copyright.