Runway Finder Shutting Down

petehowell · #1 12-09-2010, 10:54 PM

Just saw this note on one of my favorite and most useful websites.

Dave Parsons is an RV builder/owner and based on my experience with him, a great guy. I will really miss the site.

dmaib · #2 12-10-2010, 04:22 AM

That is a real shame. FlightPrep is definitely a company I will not spend one cent supporting.

plehrke · #3 12-10-2010, 05:47 AM

I used Runwayfinder on a daily bases for the last several years and found it to be one of the best quick references. My flight planning revolves around Runwayfinder and Weathermiester, supporting both due to their RV connection and their quality websites.

Walt · #4 12-10-2010, 06:23 AM

I saw this last night while using Airnav to plan a trip, like many others I used the chart feature often and will miss it.

Flightprep is definately on my list of companies to NEVER do business with

Peterk · #5 12-10-2010, 06:48 AM

So does this mean all on-line charts are now out of business unless they pay "protection" to FlightPrep? Where are those hackers when we need em?

AlexPeterson · #6 12-10-2010, 06:57 AM

Yep, this stuff happens all the time. Whether or not any infringement has indeed happened, the "small guys" can't afford to fight off the big guy's lawyers.

Sometimes the little guys do attack back and win, but they end up risking their entire worth to do it.

Too bad.

Ironflight · #7 12-10-2010, 07:04 AM

I almost NEVER say this, but because I hate this kind of thing so much, I will never let FlightPrep get a dime of my money. If I had a subscription, I would demand a refund. This is a business practice that is hurting aviation safety, and I will never support that.

The idea of this patent is absurd - you might as well patent "lift"....

Paul

Jamie · #8 12-10-2010, 07:33 AM

I know Dave may not respond to this thread out of prudence, but I hope it sheds some light on the sort of BS that we software guys go through all the time. The USPTO (US Patent and Trademark office) is completely out of control and they are killing software development and innovation in the country. The idea of a patent is to protect a non-trivial invention and to create a repository of knowledge. Simply writing code should not meet this criteria, but unfortunately the USPTO will rubber-stamp just about anything.

Dave wrote every line of his code. Flightprep had nothing to do with it. Flightprep didn't "invent" putting aeronautical charts on-line. See the absurdness of their argument?

I have been working professionally in software for 12 years and I have been on the defense in 6 different IP lawsuits -- all of which were ridiculous. In fact, I am currently involved in one that I'm not allowed to discuss.

If you want to really get angry, just google for "patent trolls". These are companies (staffed almost entirely by attorneys) that do nothing but purchase overly vague software patents and enforce them against people that are actually productive.

There is a big difference between patents in the software world and patents in the physical world. I am not a lawyer, but allow me to me explain:

Let's say you invent a machine that takes in a log and spits out a 2x4 piece of lumber and you patent it. The patent will have to explain how it works internally in detail. If I invent a machine that does the same thing (converting a log to a 2x4) but I do it in a different way, I can build and sell it without infringing your patent.

Software patents work differently. A software patent will be granted on very vague, overarching concepts. The patent will basically specify the "inputs" (the log) and "outputs" (the 2x4) of a program and that will be patented. So I can't write another program that does the same thing, even if it's done differently internally.

Software patents should be illegal (as they are in Europe). Plain and simple.

bergroup · #9 12-10-2010, 07:45 AM

In the Internet age, we no longer have to sit back and let patent troll's like Flight Prep get away with this. I posted a "I'll never do business with you" comment on their Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook page. I also wrote their sales department telling them the same thing. Since all they care about is $$$, maybe this will make them think twice in the future.

RWoodard · #10 12-10-2010, 08:04 AM

I sent them an email, too. I told them they'll never see a dime from me. I also reminded them that aviation is a tight-knit community and if they have to rely on lawyers and the legal system to gain a competitive advantage, they'll never survive.

Probably wasting my breath, but the inappropriate use of lawyers and the legal system, in general, really irks me.