Originally Posted by MarioNappa (Post 2418895)

In this video, I will update you on an issue I and others have been facing with the drone videos we've made in The Villages, showcasing new developments in progress. I wasn’t planning to address this, but I believe our rights are being infringed upon, and I feel it’s important to share my perspective. I want to keep all of you who support channels that create drone content in the loop about these recent developments. Thanks for your continued support.

https://youtu.be/ZQFLWkkNIaI

Originally Posted by CybrSage (Post 2419085)

It would go to State Court first. The developer would have to show there is a reasonable expectation of privacy in a construction zone in order for it to violate State Law.
State Law is more restrictive than fed law in this instance and it spells out that if the person can be seen from the ground, outside of private property, there is no reasonable expectation of privacy. If they cannot be, but can be seen from the air, there IS a reasonable expectation of privacy.
I posted the law, above.

Originally Posted by JRcorvette (Post 2419058)

The Developer is overreacting their authority and trying to intimidate Don. His videos are very informative and he has always been supportive of the Villages. Nothing negative. I am not sure how this all came about???

Originally Posted by elle123 (Post 2418998)

Maybe, the developers don't want the public to see the poor quality of new construction.

Originally Posted by elle123 (Post 2418998)

Maybe, the developers don't want the public to see the poor quality of new construction.

Originally Posted by RRGuyNJ (Post 2419163)

Makes you wonder what The Villages are trying to hide.
If the fights are within the regulations regarding flying drones I doubt they have anything to base their legal fight to stop the drones from flying. They're up to something in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2419176)

Probably not trying to hide anything, probably just want to control the release of information. It's hard to release exciting new updates when the video has been on YouTube for a month already.

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2418905)

Not a lot of theft by way of drones.

Originally Posted by MollyJo (Post 2418983)

Intimidation to scare, nobody likes a bully…

Originally Posted by mikemalloy (Post 2419021)

I had the opportunity to see Don's well reasoned and knowledgible response to the letter he received. In a nutshell, a lawyer (from CA) wrote to him on behalf of the owner and told him that he had no proper license and no legal right to do what he has been doing. It's Don's position, which he backed up with authority, that he does.
In my experience, some junior lawyer in the mailing firm was assigned the job of getting rid of Don's videos. He may have done a little research, but it's clear from his letter than he had no legal authority to cite to back him up. So he just used the threat of expensive legal costs to engage in what we now call lawfare. I thihk Don is going to fight and from what I can gather, he'll eventually win.

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580 (Post 2419186)

Surveillance to locate things of value, security, access, egress, optimal routes. "Casing the joint" by drone as part of planning the heist. Very important... or so I've been told. 😎

Originally Posted by Ptmcbriz (Post 2419051)

The developer wants to protect its reputation, thereby protect the future values of your home. I think what is happening is misinformation is being put out by these drone video creators (except for maybe 1 or 2 that do get it right) and the developer receives phone calls all around the world (literally) with people wanting to confirm if X area” is opening in 3 months as the drone video states, when it’s really not scheduled to open for 6 months. The ones that don’t get it right are creating added work and diminishing reputations by being wrong. I’m sure there are also liability issues, along with showing assets at construction sites.

My suggestion is the developer needs to issue special permits for drones and limiting how many are out there. Then it can be controlled and managed.

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2419176)

Probably not trying to hide anything, probably just want to control the release of information. It's hard to release exciting new updates when the video has been on YouTube for a month already.

Originally Posted by BrianL99 (Post 2419041)

Can you please point out where in FAA Regulations, the FAA has the authority to allow or not allow, "taking video of private property" and using such vidoe, commercially?

Originally Posted by Rocksnap (Post 2419189)

I’m thinking a GO FUND ME should be started to help out any legal expenses for Gold Wing Nut!

Originally Posted by rockyhyder (Post 2419065)

Bet you would feel differently if you were the one building houses and trying to market your product nationwide and some guys with no skin in the game were taking drone videos of product you don’t have ready for the market yet and posting it on you tube for their own profit.

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 2419179)

That sounds like a reasonable reason. I grow so tired of the genre of previous comments who just love to jump on the developer. WHY would the family want to ruin their very good reputation with such ding-a-ling motives. I always wonder who is so het up over the very good reputation of our founding and maintaining family? I always wonder is it a competitor, or a jealous person who doesn't live here? What is the motive? It is indeed their successful business and if they don't want a drone to fly over it, they will try to stop it. That is fine with me.

Originally Posted by Rocksnap (Post 2419196)

Is that a trick question? The FAA could care less what someone’s filming, they only care about the airspace. Last I checked, the airspace above is open to all, unless otherwise noted. That’s the REGULATION. Which is why there are web sites that drone operators use to make sure the airspace is LEGAL to operate in. TV has no such airspace restrictions. Like it or not, TV management needs to suck it up.

Originally Posted by BrianL99 (Post 2419206)

"Flying a drone", "video recording" and "posting videos on social media", are three separate and distinct activities.

The FAA is potentially interested in only one of those 3 activities.

State and federal laws, apply to the other 2.

The theme of the drone supporters seems to be, "it's legal per the FAA".

That's a red herring. Yes, flying the drone may be legal, what the drones and operators are doing, might not be.

Originally Posted by Rocksnap (Post 2419200)

That’s life. No one ever said it was fair. It’s unfair for TV to even try to get drone operators to stop flying above TV. Construction or not. So TV is trying to be the 800 pound gorilla to stop something totally legal.

Originally Posted by BrianL99 (Post 2419041)

Can you please point out where in FAA Regulations, the FAA has the authority to allow or not allow, "taking video of private property" and using such vidoe, commercially?

Originally Posted by elle123 (Post 2418998)

Maybe, the developers don't want the public to see the poor quality of new construction.

Originally Posted by G.R.I.T.S. (Post 2419088)

Airspace is not “private property.”

Originally Posted by Normal (Post 2419195)

What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Never throw rocks in glass houses. Would The Developer be permitted to fly drones and capture private residences “if” they ever released a video? You have to wonder what they were even thinking.

Originally Posted by Normal (Post 2419212)

Wrong

Where would video recording be considered illegal in public? Is it when everyone whips out their cell phones because something is happening? Perhaps it’s at Publix in the parking lot when I am putting my groceries in the car? Maybe it’s when I’m taking money from the ATM? I know, it’s when the beach cam catches me walking on the boardwalk? I’ll bet it’s when the bus driver is driving his bus? Nah. It’s when the cops arrest someone and their body cam is on? How about when Google Earth caught my car in the driveway? You got me, it’s when my dashboard camera is filming the car in front of me or behind me? Perhaps it’s when my Ring Doorbell busts the Amazon guy delivering a package?

There aren’t any red herrings

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 2419265)

I have said this many times as well; The Villages aren't our mother. I would not expect a tree falling during a hurricane to be cleaned up by anyone except the owner of the tree.

I see all around me evidence of constant care of the areas known as greenspace. I know that makes this place more beautiful and more desirable to buy but they do such a good job keeping things looking nice, picking up debris, cutting back bushes, etc. etc.

Originally Posted by Danube (Post 2419221)

It's legal by default to film private property. The FAA can restrict but it can't "allow.

See the maps posted, above.

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 2419265)

I have said this many times as well; The Villages aren't our mother. I would not expect a tree falling during a hurricane to be cleaned up by anyone except the owner of the tree.

I see all around me evidence of constant care of the areas known as greenspace. I know that makes this place more beautiful and more desirable to buy but they do such a good job keeping things looking nice, picking up debris, cutting back bushes, etc. etc.

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC (Post 2419010)

Hopefully Don will post here

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2419190)

Only in the movies. Those who would steal from a construction site don't need drones to know what types of material are on the site or the access points. These things sit in wide open, cleared fields visible from the roadway.

Originally Posted by BrianL99 (Post 2419206)

"Flying a drone", "video recording" and "posting videos on social media", are three separate and distinct activities.

The FAA is potentially interested in only one of those 3 activities.

State and federal laws, apply to the other 2.

The theme of the drone supporters seems to be, "it's legal per the FAA".

That's a red herring. Yes, flying the drone may be legal, what the drones and operators are doing, might not be.

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580 (Post 2419303)

I'm in the witness protection program. No pictures please. Out me and enjoy Guantanamo.

Originally Posted by countrycomfort1 (Post 2418965)

well if they can fly drones over air bases why can’t you fly them over a construction site