Kitplanes attack

[brian]

I got an email this morning from a Phil Penny at Belvoir Media Group, claiming that Kitplanes magazine owns the homebuilt plane vendor directory spreadsheet I created this fall from various sources, mainly the Internet. He claims it's theirs because I used similar codes as they did in their "pay-per-view" directory, like "wf" for wood & fabric, "m" for metal, etc. I guess he thought I should have used "Z" for metal and "QP" for wood & fabric. He also objected to the fact that my directory has data similar to theirs. Well, I hope it's similar; otherwise someone has incorrect data; a plane's wingspan, for example, is a rather fixed value.

It's bad enough that these people are so cheap they even charge subscribers to view things on their web page, but this really takes the cake.

Phil threatened to sue me if I don't take it down, and I told Phil it wasn't theirs or copied from theirs, and I won't be taking it down. So, now he's "referring this to our legal counsel". Apparently, there is no limit to their greed.

If anyone wants a copy of it, I suggest getting it now. Also, several people have given me updated info to put into it, so if you know of any incorrect or missing data, please let me know, and I will update it with that info.

I'm only on a couple lists, but if you're on other homebulder lists, you might want to forward this URL to other lists you are on, so more people can access the directory while it's still available (just in case they are successful if getting it removed).

I put a lot of work into this, as a resource that we can all keep up to date and share. It's a shame there are people and companies like this out there to harass people who are trying to do something decent for everyone.

The directory is at

http://brian76.mystarband.net/misc.htm#directory

[N941WR]

a good reason to drop Kitplanes. Only I don't get that rag.

[rv6ejguy]

Threats of lawsuits for things like this often backfire- we all remember what this did to a certain alternate engine supply company and a certain engine monitor company.

Marc Cook (KP Editor) is often on VAF. Maybe he can calm down Mr. Penny. Bad word can spread pretty quick on the net.

[mdredmond]

Mere collections of factual information aren't subject to copyright, nor are obvious grouping/ordering schemes (e.g., fixed-wing/rotorcraft, alphabetical order, etc...). As an example, a telephone directory isn't copyrightable.

It sounds like this guy is blowing smoke & I'm sure his lawyers will tell him that.

I'd tell him to go pound sand in the most unpleasant way I could think of.

Thanks for telling us this - I buy Kitplanes at Fry's each month. That will now stop.

[Sam Buchanan]

Phil threatened to sue me if I don't take it down, and I told Phil it wasn't theirs or copied from theirs, and I won't be taking it down. So, now he's "referring this to our legal counsel".

I suspect you received a harassment email just to see if you could be spooked into pulling the directory. More than likely you won't hear anymore about it. I recall Kitplanes Magazine raised a stink a while back because somebody was using the "kitplanes" word in some publication or web site. They claim a copyright for "kitplanes"; I always thought it was a generic term.

I had a similar situation several years ago from the "RV Journal", a mag for land yacht RVs, threatening me with legal action if I continued to use "The RV Journal" as the title for my website. I never heard from them again.

[Kevin Horton]

Brian - Do we have your permission to place copies of your spreadsheet on our own web sites? It would be especially useful to get copies on some sites outside the USA. I'd be happy to post a copy on my web site. I live in Canada, so that should slow them down a bit.

[TSwezey]

I doubt he is going to go to federal court and sue you. No lawyer would take that on contigent (spelling?) and he would have to pay all up front.

[brian]

Originally Posted by Kevin Horton

Brian - Do we have your permission to place copies of your spreadsheet on our own web sites? It would be especially useful to get copies on some sites outside the USA. I'd be happy to post a copy on my web site. I live in Canada, so that should slow them down a bit.

You bet, Kevin. Feel free to do so. If I get more updates to it from users, I will send you a copy.

Best Regards,
brian

[Thermos]

Originally Posted by brian

It's a shame there are people and companies like this out there to harass people who are trying to do something decent for everyone.

It's doubly shameful when the company involved harrasses people in the community that keeps them in business.

Kitplanes, are you listening?

[svanarts]

I uploaded your spreadsheet to my Google Docs and Spreadsheets. Now if everyone does something similar...