AOL Sues NavQuest Over Similarity to MapQuest

Tuesday, April 8. 2008

AOL Sues NavQuest Over Similarity to MapQuest

AOL is suing the Boca Raton-based NavQuest that offer boaters tools to plot a course. Says AOL: the site is "confusingly similar" in name and function. NavQuest launched in Feb 2007. Per the Palm Beach Post, here's what it offers:

Boaters enter their starting and ending points. The marine navigation tool calculates trip time, distance and fuel consumption, and downloads the needed charts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The site also offers weather, tide and marina information.

NavQuest's founder Ken Litvack tried to trademark NavQuest in 2006; AOL opposed the application. But clearly, AOL is no longer waiting around for the trademark folks to finish the processing.

Posted by Adena Schutzberg in MapQuest at 12:57 | Comments (13)

Comments

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Sounds nuts to me...

#1 John on 2008-04-09 14:02 (Reply)

Countersuit potential there, really. That should be a fun one to watch.

#1.1 Daniel (Link) on 2008-04-09 14:38 (Reply)

They should counter sue...I don't like lawsuits, but this is David vs.goliath!

P

#2 Pat on 2008-04-09 19:13 (Reply)

AOL is completely ridiculous and this is a clear case of harassment. MapQuest clearly has a different value proposition and NavQuest in no way infringes on AOL’s business model. Perhaps AOL would be better served to invest in this start-up company and help them grown an ancillary revenue stream to offset the losses that they are sustaining with Mapquest.---Robert Messinger

#3 Robert Messinger on 2008-04-10 13:51 (Reply)

Right on Target! Go NavQuest!!!!

Lee

#3.1 Lee on 2008-04-18 14:34 (Reply)

There is a slightly different ver on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbNd3W_J7QQ

#3.1.1 Mike on 2008-04-30 14:08 (Reply)

Video interview about the lawsuit...

http://media.navquest.com/video/Ken_Litvack_WPBF_Interview

Barry

#3.2 Barry on 2008-04-23 05:35 (Reply)

Great advertising for Navquest! Put's them on the map (or chart)!
Clearly different... what are they thinking???

#4 Bill on 2008-04-23 13:55 (Reply)

It is crazy...but AOL has to make a buck somehow. When big companies go after a small business it's just plain wrong. There seems to be hundreds of businesses with the word Quest in their name (some seem to do some sort of mapping). Oh, well...more crap to keep judges busy.

#5 Paul on 2008-05-05 07:02 (Reply)

I think AOL execs should be criminally prosecuted for presenting such a frivolous lawsuit! This was obviously designed to squeeze NavQuest. What ever happened to common sense!

#6 Ben on 2008-05-06 08:59 (Reply)

Criminally prosecuted is a bit much. I can understand they are trying to "squeeze" the folks at NavQuest, on the same handI think it is great that these little guys dont seem to be giving up too quickly. AOL/Time Warner does have deep pockets. Hope it turns in NavQuest favor, but I have my doubts.

#6.1 Jan on 2008-05-06 20:20 (Reply)

It's about time the small person has a say. What it it about - pushing the small man out of business - the names are totaly different - it's like saying you HAVE A TRADEMARK ON QUEST -

#7 Allen Zwetschkenbaum on 2008-05-07 10:35 (Reply)

There is no confusion. One is boat navigation and the other is land maps and driving directions. AOL is frivolous and greedy. And is sidestepping their real issue; bad management with mapquest. Most people are turning to Google maps because mapquest doesn't update their information. Get a life AOL!

#8 Christina de Barros on 2008-05-08 14:23 (Reply)

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