bgpilot1 Posted December 27, 2010 Report Share Posted December 27, 2010 I find it interesting that FP isn't pursueing their lawsuit with AOPA since the AOPA flight planning software is web based, draws a movable line on the map just as NavMonster once did. (big company, plenty of money to fight) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awful_Charlie Posted December 27, 2010 Report Share Posted December 27, 2010 There is an interesting podcast on AvWeb - http://www.avweb.com/podcast/podcast/AudioPodcast_LionelLavenue_FlightPrepFlightPlanning_PatentLaw_203826-1.html?kw=AVwebAudio that explains some of the issues. I have heard from a reliable source that part of the problem is that the owner of FlightPrep is the chap who originally wrote what is now Jepp FlightStar, and for a full time job is an Attorney. I don't like it any more than anyone else here, but think some caution is advised Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgePerry Posted December 27, 2010 Report Share Posted December 27, 2010 Quote: Awful_Charlie I don't like it any more than anyone else here, but think some caution is advised Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaV8or Posted December 28, 2010 Report Share Posted December 28, 2010 Quote: GeorgePerry ...and my belief that we live in an overly litigious environment where all these attorneys are a necessary evil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N6784N Posted December 28, 2010 Report Share Posted December 28, 2010 It is really ashame that flightprep was able to get a patent on this. They may have a claim I guess well i dont know since im not a patent attorney but should they really be using their presumed legal rights when most these sites are doing it as hobby or to make a few extra bucks and hey maybe even doing it to contribute safety to the general aviaiton community and not trying to be a major player to flightprep? If they were smart they would have tried to find a way to tie their so called creation to these beneficial sites and get good recognition rather then threatening them until they took their sites down. when it comes to the web it really is better to catch bees with honey. with the advent of moving maps and digital charts in makes complete sense to do flight planning online since alot of people dont have paper charts anymore so does flightprep think we should only go to them for flight planning? imsure they have a good product but i will never know now i guess. so with that said even if they are right which is shameful, I will not support flightprep by buying their product. maybe after they go out of business and cant afford to sue then general aviaiton can get back to normal. flight prep if you read this take this as another $149.00 you lost!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansel Posted December 28, 2010 Report Share Posted December 28, 2010 Quote: JimR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowjacket Posted December 29, 2010 Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 I took a look at FP and I wonder why anyone would want to pay $149 per year when fltplan.com is such a super flight planning resource and it is free. I am wondering what you get for the yearly subscription that you don't get with fltplan.com? Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl Posted December 30, 2010 Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 Quote: hansel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgePerry Posted December 30, 2010 Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 This FP thing is getting ugly. http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?ContentBlockID=9895d80b-2471-4710-bac5-a87c37210ce7& Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottfromiowa Posted December 30, 2010 Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 Hilarious George. Thanks for sharing. Comments by respondents are better than ANY reality show. Flightprep has struck an iceberg and more than three compartments are compromised....Going D.O.W.N.... Oh, the humanity... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MooneyMitch Posted December 30, 2010 Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 Read the article linked by George Perry. A pathetic and cowardly act by a person of questionable character and integrity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awful_Charlie Posted December 30, 2010 Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 Most of you being in the right continent may have seen these before, but this case reminded me of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaV8or Posted December 30, 2010 Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 Quote: Awful_Charlie Most of you being in the right continent may have seen these before, but this case reminded me of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelswick Posted December 30, 2010 Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 Doh! And I just paid for the one year ForeFlight subscription yesterday! Guess I should have signed for the 3 month subscription to see how this turns out. I hope they are not affected. I understand the obligation to protect intellectual property, but when it is as loose as on-line flight planning (like the online banking analogy mentioned earlier), that's ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flight2000 Posted December 30, 2010 Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 I read over on the AOPA forum that the owner of runwayfinder.com retained the same firm that Jepp/Boeing uses for patent protection and work. That is good news in the on going battle/lawsuit. Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelswick Posted December 30, 2010 Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 AvWeb had a good piece on this as well at http://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/WhatNowFlightPrep_203858-1.html#read. It looks like it was originally dated the 27th, but it came in todays AvWeb email. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N601RX Posted December 30, 2010 Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 Quote: flight2000 I read over on the AOPA forum that the owner of runwayfinder.com retained the same firm that Jepp/Boeing uses for patent protection and work. That is good news in the on going battle/lawsuit. Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flight2000 Posted December 30, 2010 Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 I certainly don't think it's a coincidence.... Dave Parsons mentioned in his blog that several aviation companies have donated to the cause, but won't list them because of confidentiality and to help protect them from the FP public affairs machine that is in overdrive right now. Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_S Posted December 31, 2010 Report Share Posted December 31, 2010 This from the ForeFlight blog: A Statement About Our Friend, RunwayFinder Posted on December 16, 2010 by foreflight It is with great sadness that we watch the RunwayFinder.com web site go offline. The aviation community has lost a helpful resource. Dave Parsons is a true innovator. RunwayFinder is and has been a valued supplier to ForeFlight. Given our business relationship, some customers have inquired as to whether or not the current matters will affect ForeFlight’s ability to deliver updated charts to ForeFlight HD customers. The answer is simple: ForeFlight will continue to offer monthly chart and data updates to customers, including downloads of VFR sectional and IFR enroute charts, and expects no interruption of service. Nothing is more important to Team ForeFlight than your faith, trust, support, and encouragement. We will always strive to live up to that, with the same conviction that drove the first pilots skyward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelswick Posted December 31, 2010 Report Share Posted December 31, 2010 Thanks for sharing that Jeff. I was hoping that was the case having just paid the subscription day before yesterday for ForeFlight's iPad product. It is impressive and worth paying a subscription for which is maybe what FlightPrep should have strived to do in having a product people want to pay a subscription for because it's worth it. Regardless, I'm still bent about what FP has done to Dave Parson's, Runway Finder and others like them. Happy New Year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgePerry Posted January 1, 2011 Report Share Posted January 1, 2011 http://beta.navmonster.com/ Navmonster's site says they are coming back up. Must have been the biblical smack down FP took over the patent infringement. Mark up another small victory for the power of the internet and the passionate individuals that make up the GA community. Happy 2011 everybody...this is a good way to start. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Good news! You spoke (in volumes!) and we've listened. We got all the lawyers and programmers together from both sides, and after some good discussions, an agreement has been reached. No more patent infringement worries. Since the site is already down, we're taking the opportunity to change a few things around. But NavMonster should be back, stronger than ever, on the first of the new year. Thanks for all the well wishes and words of encouragement. Happy New Year, and safe flying. Marc Alexandermarc@navmonster.comDec 31, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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