In this case, a company known as "FlightPrep," which now is allegedly using a recently awarded patent to allegedly push everyone else out of business by the tactic of threatening them with litigation, or even defending against a baseless lawsuit can cost enough to push a small operation into failure.
FlightPrep denies that that is what they are doing.
Some are closing.
Others are fighting back.
Patents were developed so that legitimate inventors could profit from their ideas. They were not meant for patenting ideas that were already in use and then threatening plagues of attorneys to stifle competition. Whether FlightPrep is doing that, or whether they are the victim here is a matter that I will leave to you.
The problem for FlightPrep is that the aviation world is a small one and the subset of pilots who have a use for such a service is smaller still. The average VFR pilot has little need of a flight-planning service. Even if FlightPrep is correct in asserting its position, its victory may be a Pyrrhic one if enough pilots become persuaded that they are bullies and scumbags.
Either Way, A N(ice) Trip!
26 minutes ago
6 comments:
Electronic flight planning is OLD as in greater than 20 years. But USPO is also a maze that if one is creative you can patent grandma.
If you piss off pilots and behave like a monopoly you may be out of business and finding that there are a score of vultures to buy your patent for pennies. Unfortunately those vultures, they are indeed worse.
In the end they will have assisted flight safety negatively.
Eck!
Software patents are a funny business. Producing a complex computer program can require a great deal of work.
What I did not see is just what they are trying to patent. Their code? The concept? The look and feel?
The boycott is weird. They don't even explain what their beef is.
Another company investing in this strategy:
1. Act like an asshole
2. (??????)
3. Profit!
FlightPrep's patent is allegedly over-reaching and ignores prior art. They're taking the RIAA approach and extorting money from those too small or unwilling to fight them. ( sigh: really, Skyvector? )
It may eventually get squashed in the courts - can't wait for them to take on DUATS or AOPA... but in the meantime FlightPrep is squashing a lot of innovation. What a shame.
This happened because the Patent Office is funded by user fees. It's not in the interest of the USPTO to deny a patent.
Exhibit A
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