Runway Finder Shutting Down

[petehowell]

Help defray costs.....

Follow the link

[BSwayze]

Originally Posted by Snowflake

You're still mixing up two separate issues here... One, whether FP's patent is valid or not (I think we all agree it isn't, but that still needs to be proven in court), and two, whether inventing something is enough to get a patent for it.

Remember, their patent isn't just for online flight planning. It also incorporates drawing a track on an online map, and other features. If they were the first to put all those features together, the sad reality is that they may deserve the patent. I hope not.

Showing that their invention was obvious to someone skilled in the art is extremely difficult after the fact, and again will probably require a court to settle.

The problem with that, Rob, is that the big companies with the resources, money, and lawyers, are using their muscle to bully the little guys who don't have these resources, to either pay up or go out of business. They're not interested in their day in court to prove their case. They're using the THREAT of court (the high expense of participating in our legal system) to get their competitors to pony up and pay. At least one has already caved and done so. Indeed, the first thing they asked for was their non-disclosure agreement, i.e., "let us screw you privately, out of view of the public eye... don't you tell anyone!" Oh, how they whined when this came out for all to see, and they objected to it "being tried in the court of public opinion". Well, public opinion DOES matter. We're the ones who buy (or choose not to buy) from people like this.

I look forward to the day they close their doors because their business dried up from lack of sales.

[eric_marsh]

Or even worse, there are companies that simply force their competition out of business so that they can own the market.

I have a side business doing polyurea spray coatings. To have an idea of what polyurea is just think truck bed liners. Because this material is very thick and very strong it takes special masking techniques.

There is a special kind of masking tape used in the industry to get a clean edge. It has a piece of piano wire or tough cord running down one edge. After the coating has been applied the wire is pulled, cleanly cutting the coating. Then the masking is pulled for an attractive job.

An outfit in Canada was granted a patent for this technology, even though there was prior art. Evidently it originated with 3M. One company fought the patent but at some point their pockets weren't deep enough and they had to drop the fight.

Immediately the patent owner sued everyone who was making this product and put them all out of business. The owners of one such small business are friends of mine. As part of the settlement they had to send a letter to all their customers saying that the patent owner was the originator of the concept and that everyone should purchase their product from that company. Of course they were coerced to send that letter.

Consequently the price of trimtape went up seven fold and the quality of the product deteriorated. Instead of being able to select the tape that best fits the job they provide one size and expect it to fit all.

Fortunately I've still got a small cache of the old tape left that I'm hoarding. I'm thinking of building my own machine to make tape for my own use. Regardless, I do not do business with companies who's business practices I find abhorrent.

[nedrose]

I don't know if they will have a booth at Sun&Fun, but if they do, the aviation community can surely boycott them.

Ned
42TD
200 hrs.

[RV7AV8R]

Originally Posted by eric_marsh

Fortunately I've still got a small cache of the old tape left that I'm hoarding. I'm thinking of building my own machine to make tape for my own use. Regardless, I do not do business with companies who's business practices I find abhorrent.

Technically the patent owner has the right to enforce his exclusive right to make, use or sell the product, so you can not even make it for your own use... but he would have to some how know this and then go thought the expense to enforce his right. Not likely unless you are a really big user.

[Chris Hill]

FlightPlanner is wasting their time....read here

http://www.aopa.org/flightplanning/a..._concerns.html


There is always a work around...

[MartySantic]

A very good story on AvWeb by Russ Niels. Well said!

"What Now, FlightPrep?"

http://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/W..._203858-1.html

[Peterk]

The last two posts say it all. AOPA (our paid-for lobbyist) is reporting the news (only) and our free aviation journalist (AVWeb) is pleading with FlightPrep to drop this foolish lawsuit against a man's family. And yes, EAA has reported the "event" as well. If an aviation news source can editorialize why can't our paid lobbyist's speak for us as well? Or maybe they are on the other side? That's my take until I hear otherwise.

[sjarrell]

then upgraded it for $49 to with the SmartPlan Premier Flight Planning Module. It's FAR superior to the FlightPrep product which I'll be removing from my computer as soon as I've manually converted my existing flight plans.

Not another cent from me to FlightPrep.

[AMURRAY]

It looks like Flightprep tried to bully Flightaware with no avial. I guess Flightaware has bigger lawyers.
http://flightaware.com/news/article/...rep-Patent/147