No More Nexstar GPS Scopes!!

I couldn't believe it. I went into my local scope shop today and was asking a few questions about the Celestron Nexstar GPS Series of SCT's. It was explained to me that the entire line was discontinued and that they are no longer available. I was a little choked.
Then I asked why???
Apparently, Meade forced Celestron to terminate production of the Nexstar line in the last round of litigation agreement. Something to do with patent infringement.
I was wondering what happened to the Nexstar GPS ads in the last 2 issues of S&T.
Thanks alot Meade (ya bunch a' dinks!!)
Just one more reason I will never buy a Meade product again.

Choked in Canada - Rob

Hey! Maybe my NS8GPS will become a classic. 8) I may have to put it up for auction next year and see if I can get as much as an AP Refractor.
Seriously though, it is hard to believe that anyone can patent a go-to telescope, GPS or otherwise. I mean, how about all the other GO-To scopes out there?
Floyd

Anacortes still has 'em listed on their website, FWIW.

Looks like Celestron has downloaded
their last Meade song....

I hope this doesnt mean they won't continue to develop the scopes. If the 40.40 firmware never becomes final and they stop devlopment on the Nexstar line and leave all their customers high and dry, I will be pretty angry. I hope this isn't true for my own selfish reasons I don't want my 4 month old scope to be a dead platform.

Has anyone actually called Celestron and asked them? If someone did, perhaps I missed it, but it seems the best approach to finding out if this is indeed true.

Clear skies, Alan

Any clues what the subject patent covers? Hopefully other scope/mount manufacturers aren't also infringing.