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 Previous Item - Finally Done!
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Runway Finder Shutting Down? |
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Dave Forster - Dec 13,2010
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Not sure if you guys have seen this or not: <br /><br /><a href="http://blog.runwayfinder.com/2010/12/09/runwayfinder-going-offline/">http://blog.runwayfinder.com/2010/12/09/runwayfinder-going-o<br>ffline/</a><br /> <br />It appears Flightprep (who makes Chart Case and Golden Eagle flight planning tools and is behind ASA publications) has been awarded a patent for online flight planning tools and have launched legal action (which may or may not be averted) to shutdown Runwayfinder.com, which has its own free website and feeds other sites for free, like Airnav.com.<br /> <br />Another article on the subject can be found here: <a href="http://www.aero-news.net/news/genav.cfm?ContentBlockID=6efd0dfe-4a14-4c0f-b272-be30b9a8c7b2&Dynamic=1">http://www.aero-news.net/news/genav.cfm?ContentBlockID=6efd0<br>dfe-4a14-4c0f-b272-be30b9a8c7b2&Dynamic=1</a><br /> <br />Flightprep's response (I guess it qualifies as a 'response') can be found here: <a href="http://blog.flightprep.com/">http://blog.flightprep.com/</a><br /> <br />I am concerned that, without opposition, Flightprep might take their legal threats to other companies and therebye endanger many of the flight planning products which we currently use. I imagine many of the vendors cannot afford a legal battle and so will simply close up shop - after all, we are as pilots a pretty small market and many of these products are currently being provided by like-minded aviators for free.<br /> <br />While there may be little that can be done by the average person on the legal front, there is a grass roots effort underway to boycott Flightprep and hopefully persuade them to desist by pointing out that they are alienating their customer base.<br /> <br />To that end, I sent an email to Flightprep (sales@flightprep.com) today.<br /><br />
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Dave Forster - Dec 15,2010
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The latest news on this is that Flighprep have expanded their activities to include AOPA: <a href="http://www.aopa.org/flightplanning/articles/2010/101214AOPA_Flight_Planner_does_not_infringe_on_patent.html">http://www.aopa.org/flightplanning/articles/2010/101214AOPA_<br>Flight_Planner_does_not_infringe_on_patent.html</a><br /><br />It appears Flightprep may be leveraging their patent to try to make a case against AOPA's online flight planning tool. I wonder who is next?<br /><br />Meanwhile, RunWayFinder has been shut down. They are a company which consists of one pilot/programmer, who wrote his own code and provided it free of charge to the aviation community. According to his blog post, he cannot finance a legal defense against Flightprep, regardless of whether he is right or not.<br /><br />A grass roots boycott of Flightprep and ASA products has commenced on at least one other aviation forum.<br /><br />This story is now being picked up outside of aviation circles. Here is an interesting article: <a href="http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101214/17562412278/creating-flight-plans-online-patented-small-company-sued-out-business-not-wanting-to-pay-32-million-per-month.shtml">http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101214/17562412278/creati<br>ng-flight-plans-online-patented-small-company-sued-out-busin<br>ess-not-wanting-to-pay-32-million-per-month.shtml</a><br />
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Kenneth Leonard - Dec 15,2010
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Sent to: sales@flightprep.com<br /><br />Guys, tell me it ain't so. I actually like your product. <br />Am I to understand you forced 'runwayfinder' out of business and are going after others?<br /><br />Please don't try to convince me you are the sole inventor or legal user of aviation technology or that you have a right to shut down other people from using their brains to make flying safer, cheaper and better.<br /><br />Tell me you are absolutely dropping this crap or I'm forever done with you and will badmouth your company with everyone in the flying community I speak with.<br /><br />Sincerely, Ken Leonard N52596
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Eric Batterman - Dec 16,2010
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The patent system has long been broken. Please add your comments to sales@flightprep. I hope someone with resources invalidates their patent.
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You can patent anything
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Don Maxwell - Dec 16,2010
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Oh, hey, that's a good one! And it inspires me to patent my own invention, a method of 'walking' in which the operator shifts all of his or her weight to one foot, lifts the opposite foot, swings the corresponding leg forward approximately 1.5 feet, and lowers it to the ground or floor, then shifts the operator's weight to that foot and repeats the process with the other foot. But don't tell anyone about it until I can hire an attorney and submit the application!
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Frank A. Carr - Dec 18,2010
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Hey Don, there's billions of violations of your idea already, you'll be rich!
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Dave Forster - Dec 16,2010
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Thanks, Ken and Eric! Hopefully if enough people tell Flightprep/ASA what they think of their tactics, they will rethink what they are doing and play nice. The aviation community is too small for companies to be bullying each other out of existence.
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Troy iRMT Heavy Maint. Enriquez - Dec 18,2010
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I send my email to flightprep/ASA.
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Eric Batterman - Dec 20,2010
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Dave Forster - Dec 23,2010
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Update:<br /><br />The list of website victims which have been shut down in response to Flightprep's actions now includes:<br /><br />Runwayfinder.com<br />Nacomatic.com<br />Flyagogo.com<br />Navmonster.com<br /><br />Airnav.com no longer displays aviation maps.<br /><br />A site has been set up in support of a boycott of Flightprep: <a href="http://boycottflightprep.com/">http://boycottflightprep.com/</a><br /><br />
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Kenneth Leonard - Dec 23,2010
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FlightPrep's website has a long explanation of why they have the right and obligation to protect their property. I don't buy it but obviously, they are sensitive to the issue. Just not changing.
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Steve Kessinger - Dec 23,2010
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Too bad we can't 'Cooksource' them.
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Cooksource
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Kenneth Leonard - Dec 24,2010
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Dave Forster - Dec 28,2010
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RunwayFinder has decided to fight Flightprep in court - and hopefully will invalidate their patent! <br /><br />RunwayFinder is one pilot, who programmed this in his free time and didn't charge anyone for using the service. As a result, he doesn't have any revenues to offset the cost of his legal defense.<br /><br />He has set up a fund for anyone who might like to donate to support him in his fight against Flightprep. You can read more about the fund here: <a href="http://blog.runwayfinder.com/2010/12/26/defense-fund/">http://blog.runwayfinder.com/2010/12/26/defense-fund/</a><br /><br />I have made a donation.
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