The legal end of things is no fun to have to stop and think about when you are involved in intellectual and artistic endeavors, but the spotlight began to glare on 3D printing almost immediately once the issue of 3D printed guns erupted, opening a great deal of controversy regarding regulation.
Pandora’s Box, beautifully rendered in 3D print, has been sprung open, left vulnerable to the legal system and government. Guns aren’t the half of it, either, as copyrighting and intellectual property issues have been brought up too many times now to think that the conversation is going away. That box can’t be closed now.
As the industry of 3D printing infiltrates its way into much more public and accessible avenues like libraries, suddenly rules are being posted and questions are being asked. Despite a fairly easygoing, open-source community based on sharing and improving, there’s growing patriarchal worry also now that rebellious, copycatting library patrons might go wild infringing on copyright laws and 3D printing outlandish models. Some trains of thought definitely seem to be along the lines that the artists might start causing trouble, so perhaps it’s better to rein them in before they go any further.
“Provide citations to the applicable state and federal laws that may impose civil liability or criminal penalties for misuse of a 3D printer, including laws regarding copyright infringement and trademark and patent protection,” states Section 1(A) of the AB-37 bill, proposed by Assembly member Nora Campos, representing San Jose.
The bill also states the Department of Justice, in order to keep up with sweeping changes and innovation in the technology itself, would be required to “annually review and revise the notice to reflect updates to the applicable laws.”
Even more concerning, and confusing, is that according to watchdog Parker Higgins, this bill was originally meant to concern drones, and was “one hundred percent amended” to go in the direction of imposing authority and ominous warnings over 3D printing library patrons instead.
What are your thoughts on 3D printing being regulated? Do you think 3D printing in libraries will cause issues? Tell us your thoughts in the California Assembly Bill AB-37 forum thread over at 3DPB.com.