What about patents? I’d be surprised if Boeing don’t own patents in every possible field related to this type of design, given their history with this type of aircraft.
It’s a nice idea, but I can’t see it ever being anything other than a loud argument. Maybe that’s the point - airbus trying to lure Boeing into a battle they think they can win (legal) when it turns out it’s actually an ambush in the PR war.
Eh? Boeing has made prototypes that look vaguely like this in the past, but the patents would long since have expired. And you can't patent visual design. If Boeing makes a weirdly short stubby aircraft, Airbus can't sue them for copying their A318 concept, say.
I would bet that Airbus and Boeing have to cross-license their patents to one another anyway. Their interest is in keeping other entrants out of the market.
patents are typically valid for 20 years or so depending on jurisdiction. So unless Boeing has done a bunch of research/patenting after the year 2000 is not something to worry about.
There have been a lot of flying wings or blended wing bodies through history. Horten (Germany) in the 30s and 40s, Northrop since the 40s and some russian models from 30s and 40s as well. The concept isn't that new. It just didn't make that much sense so far in non-military, non-stealth applications. Excluding UAVs, the B-2 has build the most with 21, followed by the Horten H.III gluider from WW2 with 19 or so.
One issue could be airport infrastructure, the wing span would take up a lot of terminal / gate space. But if these planes are economically enough, who knows?
It’s a nice idea, but I can’t see it ever being anything other than a loud argument. Maybe that’s the point - airbus trying to lure Boeing into a battle they think they can win (legal) when it turns out it’s actually an ambush in the PR war.