Plan G will it be affected by the patent issue

[bliksimpie]

I see a few sites have been served legal papers as they infringe apparently on some on line flight planning online patent rights.

Some has already closed shop (http://beta.navmonster.com/) while others said they will fight procedings against them

Any ideas?

details here
https://encrypted.google.com/search?hl=en&q=flightprep+patent&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

[tim arnot]

No, I don't believe so.

From what I understand, this patent applies to a purely online system, where the client connects to a web site and all the planning is done on the server, using server based data & computation. Plan-G is a client based program, with all the data residing on the user's PC, and all computation done locally. Google Maps is only used for display, and if this patent affects me on that basis then it also affects anyone that draws a line on a Google map (rather like patenting fresh air) and I rather think that Google themselves would have something to say about that. Software is not generally patentable in the UK and Europe (it's not deemed to constitute an "invention"), but I have no idea the extent to which a US patent can affect things produced elsewhere.

Having said that, I don't have the resources to defend myself should his lawyers get pointed in my direction.

But I believe he will eventually go up against someone with the resources and he will be squashed. The bones of this patent, as far as I can make out is "put it on a server" and that really is like patenting breathing. It should never have been granted.

[bliksimpie]

Good news as I and thousands of others is immensely satisfied with your product and it would be another sad day to see it being ripped from us.

Thanks again for this great product.!

Keep well
JB