I think any real pilots on this board, or potential pilots, should be aware of what's going on in the aviation community regarding Flight Prep. It's causing quite a stir on many pilot forums around the internet, so I figured I'd also spread the word here...Basically, Flight Prep was awarded a patent claiming they invented online flight planning. They have filed a lawsuit against one site (RunwayFinder), and have approached others such as AOPA, FlightAware, flplan.com, etc. Several free sites have already shut down over this. Some of these tools like RunwayFinder were probably very useful to sim pilots as well, as you could see real IFR and VFR charts online for free. http://www.runwayfinder.comhttp://www.navmonster.comhttp://www.boycottflightprep.comhttp://www.nacomatic.comhttp://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?ContentBlockID=272e26be-bbb3-4ae0-91e6-b1162e98d9a7or just google "flightprep patent"

Flight Prep have really shot themselves up the &@($* with this one, and the sad thing is, there was no need for it. I've been watching them indulge in some damage limitation exercises of late, but they're going to have a hard time making anyone have any sympathy for them after the way they've gone about stuff.What does give me some hope though, is that what they're attempting to do is somewhat reminiscent of when a certain payware FS company (whom I'm sure FS veterans will know) attempted to put the block on people doing freeware repaints for FS, and anyone who remembers that episode will also remember that it ended badly for them.I'm pretty sure people power will triumph on this one as well, and even if it doesn't, you can expect pilots to show their disapproval by voting to keep their wallets firmly shut where Flight Prep is concerned, so in PR terms and probably sales as well, they're probably not going to like how it turns out.Al

George Seldon in the USA tried to patent the motor car in 1879. He failed but got a patent on a two-stroke engine which was eventually overturned.

Hello everyone.There are a lot of Bottom feeders out there. When the Patent office allows these broad patents they put everyone in jeopardy. It's another form of Communism, where you hope to get something for doing nothing. It is my hope that no one gets killed by the lack of information, that was typically available to Pilots before these individuals started this terror campaign. My hope is that FAA, Patent Office, AOPA, and everyone else, gets involved and puts a top to this. TV

I want to know how someone can patent something that the government actually produces and has copyright over. Charts are compiled and disseminated by the FAA, not private companies last I looked. If that is the case, the FAA needs to take down their digital charts and such elsewise they will be sued by these characters.  :(