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gmohr
Joined: 14 Jul 2006
Posts: 63
Location: Augusta, GA
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 12:08 pm Post subject: Runwayfinder.com shut down |
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From the Aero-News Network it appears that the free flight planning site,
runwayfinder.com, has been forced to shut down due to FlightPrep claims of
patent infringement. You can read the story here, http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?ContentblockID=2db3fac3-26b4-4383-aa23-2c211bae792e |
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Aerco
Joined: 26 Aug 2009
Posts: 68
Location: Corona CA
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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| He with the most expensive lawyers wins. Again. |
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Daidalos
Joined: 12 Feb 2009
Posts: 137
Location: KHWV
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| Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 1:18 pm Post subject: |
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Here's a snippet from a post on the AOPA forums. There are several long threads there on the FlightPrep matter. If you have access it behoves you to check them out.
I have my personal opinions but holding my tounge. I have certainly lost two of my favorite sites that aid in flight planning. Of course you can do it with a chart and plotter and must demostrato that to pass your test. But hese were great tools. I miss the Navmonster iPhone app the most.
As to who's right you may need to be a software delveloper or patent attourney to decide.
Quote: FlightPrep has declared war on the aviation community. So far, they are winning. Here is the scorecard so far...
RunwayFinder.com - Shut Down
NACOmatic.com - Shut Down
Flyagogo.com - Shut Down
Navmonster.com - Shut Down
Skyvector.com - Licence Fees Paid and NDA signed
fltplan.com - Threatened
AOPA Online Flight Planner - Threatened
Flightaware.com - Threatened
Airnav.com - Lost map links to Runwayfinder.com
Foreflight - Unknown impact due to loss of Runwayfinder charts |
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FastEddieB
Joined: 07 Jan 2009
Posts: 207
Location: Mineral Bluff, GA
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| Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: I miss the Navmonster iPhone app the most.
Ditto that - though I didn't even know it was gone!
Remind me never to give FlightPrep one red cent! |
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dstclair
Joined: 06 Mar 2008
Posts: 212
Location: Allen, TX
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| Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 8:08 pm Post subject: |
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I have quite a bit of experience with both -- software and patents. I suggest we wait until facts are more visible before passing judgement. Right now the aviation world is up in arms about Flightprep going after the little guys. Fairly normal process in the patent world. Microsoft, Oracle, Apple et. al. do the same thing. Are you boycotting them as well?
I'm not a fan of software patents at all but around 20 years ago they started being issued with high frequency. Now they are a part of life in the software business. Protection from infringement is absolutely a must in all agreements. Remember, infringement does not need to be intentional.
I don't necessarily agree with FlightPrep's approach but they are entitled to protect their property. I've seen two opposing views from patent attorneys on whether the patent will withstand court challenges. Guess we'll find out. |
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