[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

That said, I think it's dumb of them to try to stop the other drone fliers... Unless of course, they are publishing incorrect information...

I don’t think there is a requirement to publish correct information. Newspapers, television, and the internet publish incorrect information all the time.

And if publishing incorrect information were grounds for shutting down a website, this website would have been shut down years ago.

[TCRSO]

See the following link from the FAA
FAA publishes new fact sheet on areas where local authorities can rule on drone operations - Unmanned airspace

[charlie1]

Originally Posted by Tvflguy

The 4 small video production guys that take drone videos above TV and new areas being developed received Cease & Desist letters from TV attorneys. Telling them to STOP flying above TV and gave them 2 weeks to delete all their videos on sites etc.

????? We love Don Wiley and his Goldwingnut videos on YouTube etc. so enjoyable getting updates on construction and new retail in TV. Always promoted TV. Always.

Why are they taking this action ? Perhaps to begin their own video production and push out private folks? Don’t they make enough $$$$. Disgusting IMO

They already have their own production facility with drones that are competing with the four private drone pilots. Their videos are short, focused, and not near as informative.

[Normal]

There was a time when information was controlled, but this isn’t a pragmatic concept in today’s world. The Developer is trying to plug holes in the sieve with thousands of holes left unaddressed. Curving information in today’s world? Good luck with that. Their old school concepts could push them down river with the past if they don’t adapt.

The marketing strategy of today’s society is today, not 20 years ago or even 5 years back. They need to get with the times. Think about it, a newspaper, for real? Ya, and it is delivered to people who already own homes and live here….lol. The marketing strategy stinks.

The drone operators could be harnessed for positive use. Instead the builder appears to be Barney with his one bullet. Move to the information highway of the internet already. If they want to sell houses, move into today’s mindset, dawdling in the past just leaves you there. Drone footage exposes marketing secrets…hilarious. Heck, drones will be in the past in 5-10 years then where will they be? Still peddling news papers I’ll bet.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by Catfishjeff

The Villages just made a huge PR mistake. Not only are they dead wrong legally but they have created a backlash that will spread throughout the world through social media. The potential damages to future sales could be huge. And they will lose in court. Gary Morse must be rolling in his grave.

It’s not the first time something like this has happened. Anyone getting in the way of total control is dragged through the mud and back, or worse. Just ask Oren Miller.

[Babubhat]

Cancelled my newspaper subscription and let them know why.

[Papa_lecki]

Here’s the dirty little secret - they can ground the drones….. But they can’t silence the message. Drone video in intriguing, but the important thing is the information.
Drones were creative, 5/6/7 years ago. It’s the information channels that are valuable. As an example, Don has almost 22,000 YouTube followers. He will get information out to them, just maybe not using drone video.
There was that guy who did bike videos, Don’s done motorcycle video. I would be interested in Don’s infomration, even if he used maps.
Note I didn’t say Don’s drone videos, I am interested in his INFORMATION

I actually like his 5 minutes videos better than the long ones.
Remember, it’s about the information and the access channel, not the drones.

[Normal]

Is the legal representation/counsel even educated to the abilities of the latest drone capabilities. How about that Mavic 4? One doesn’t even need to fly into new development airspace to get a Birds Eye view of construction. The latest camera technology has some fairly good focus abilities that aren’t necessarily able to be hampered to get the shots a drone pilot can take. So why even bother these guys? They can just fly straight up in uncontrollable airspace and photograph as much as they like. Is Google Earth or Brian McClendon getting sued too for the ability to take a picture of you in your own backyard? Asking for a friend….

[Tvflguy]

Other than wanting control over “competition”, wonder what the actual reason is for this legal maneuver by TV Developer? Seems as if Control is the key reason. They want to control the upcoming and new information re construction areas, entertainment, and retail in new and existing areas. Via their newspaper, video releases, and photos. Demanding no other sources to contribute information other than THEM.

We only followed Goldwingnut and his video reports on YouTube over the last few years. Found them extremely informative and supportive of TV/Developer.

So now with the legal actions TV wants to strangle and shut down these independent people. Perhaps the basis of their legal demands are weak or not lawful. Don is indicating so. And now these folks must get legal counsel to fight back. $$$$. Exactly what the Developer wants. Force the little guys out.

Personally I hope that this backfires. A pushback by the public supporting these independents and their work. I’m one of them. And if a GoFundMe opens for them I will support. I’m typically for the underdog, and this certainly applies here…

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

I don’t think there is a requirement to publish correct information. Newspapers, television, and the internet publish incorrect information all the time.

And if publishing incorrect information were grounds for shutting down a website, this website would have been shut down years ago.

True, true...

[DrMack]

I know how I would feel if I was the builder. Why should others get to enjoy my accomplishments before I was even done working on my project. It would be like the worker I hired to pave my sidewalk and me looking over his shoulder. It could even cost me money if I was in the middle of project and changed direction. I appreciate all the drone operators, but also a businesses right to privacy.

[ElDiabloJoe]

While this may be semantics, it should be pointed out that there is NO right to privacy. What exists is a legal justification for a reasonable expectation of privacy.

The devil in the details comes down to what is and what is not reasonable. Dancing nude in the square? No. Sunbathing nude in your walled backyard? Likely. Other variables exist: within view of neighbor's upstairs windows? Does an office building or hotel look down into your yard (like the Brownwood hotel looms over the old Lifestyle villas).

[Catfishjeff]

I am a drone pilot. I also ran my own businesses for over half a century. I have now seen three horrible PR mistakes - Bud Light then Disney and now The Villages. The FAA has the major control of the airspace. States can make additional laws and regulations. Municipalities cannot create laws that affect drones flying other than peeping tom laws that apply to everybody. If this C&D demand applies to the release of information then it should apply to everybody who creates videos in and about The Villages. And then there’s the first amendment which should provide the ultimate authority about individuals or companies and their free speech rights. If The Villages doesn’t figure out a way to undue this quickly, the social media responses will soon be going around the world and reaching hundreds of millions of people. And the media will pick up the story and many more millions will read about it. Not only will The Villages be losing new home sales but the residents selling their houses will discover their potential market is collapsing as well. At that point it will be wild to see who sues whom.

[kingofbeer]

Originally Posted by DrMack

I know how I would feel if I was the builder. Why should others get to enjoy my accomplishments before I was even done working on my project. It would be like the worker I hired to pave my sidewalk and me looking over his shoulder. It could even cost me money if I was in the middle of project and changed direction. I appreciate all the drone operators, but also a businesses right to privacy.

These guys will be shut down. Only a fool would try to battle the big guys in court. The Villages does not want these drone operators talking about when the supermarket is going to be built in Eastport because this causes potential buyers to not want to buy in the Eastport area. The drone operators are harming the developer and this could result in damages.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Catfishjeff

...

If The Villages doesn’t figure out a way to undue this quickly, the social media responses will soon be going around the world and reaching hundreds of millions of people. And the media will pick up the story and many more millions will read about it. Not only will The Villages be losing new home sales but the residents selling their houses will discover their potential market is collapsing as well. At that point it will be wild to see who sues whom.

Are there really that many buyers who will be concerned that the Developer does not want drone operators broadcasting their projects under development? It would not have impacted my decision one bit.

Originally Posted by kingofbeer

These guys will be shut down. Only a fool would try to battle the big guys in court. The Villages does not want these drone operators talking about when the supermarket is going to be built in Eastport because this causes potential buyers to not want to buy in the Eastport area. The drone operators are harming the developer and this could result in damages.

Really? Are you suggesting buyers will avoid the area because there will be a grocery store, will avoid the area because it looks like it will be a Publix and not an Aldi's, or will avoid the area because they had not noticed that there was no grocery store until they saw the video?

If anything, the drone operators are helping the Developer, but stealing his thunder, which could explain why it appears the Developer may be creating a drone channel of his own.