3d printing intellectual property

Metal 3D Printing Intellectual Property: Desktop Metal Files Suit Against Markforged

As it matures, the 3D printing industry is becoming an increasingly active space in terms of its patent landscape. Intellectual property is a critical concern in the dynamic industry, with…

What the Apple 3D Printing Patents Mean for Our Industry

Recently Apple has been granted a patent for a color 3D printing idea whereby the printed object is first made and then colored in afterwards. This idea is a straightforward…

17 Top 3D Printing Themes of 2017

2017 has been, by any measure, an eventful year, and as always the end of December brings us to a retrospective season as we look back on all that has…

3D Printing Patent Landscape

The field of 3D printing has been growing rapidly for years.  It has applications in many areas of life and the economy, such as healthcare, aerospace, and parts replacement.  3D…

Create it REAL Develops New Solution to 3D Printing Copyright Issues

Intellectual property continues to be a big issue in 3D printing. The industry has been compared frequently to the music industry in the 1990s and early 2000s, as digital technology…

Disney Files Patent Application for “Anti-Scanning” Material that Would Make Figurines Harder to Scan and 3D Print

While consumers use 3D printers for a wide variety of reasons, one thing that many people love to do is to 3D print figurines of characters from their favorite movies,…

How the 3D Design Community Can Better Protect Its Intellectual Property

3D printing has, in the scope of a just a few years, moved from a technology on the periphery—primarily used by large companies for industrial manufacturing—to the mainstream—a technology on…

Michael Weinberg Leads Us Through 3 Steps for Licensing 3D Printed Things

As more and more people become involved in 3D printing, more and more awesome stuff is being created. The question that naturally arises after any particularly amazing print, or after a…

D3CRYPT3D Software Aims to Provide Security For 3D Assets and Intellectual Property

One of the biggest hinderances lingering throughout the 3D printing community is the lack of security for intellectual property of 3D models. The glaring issue has plagued users of 3D…

“Cheerleader Uniform Case” Prompts Shapeways and Other Organizations to Demand Supreme Court Clarify Intellectual Property Law

Full disclosure: intellectual property and copyright issues are not my favorite subjects. The whole area is messy, murky, confusing, and often seemingly arbitrary, and that’s before you even open up…

3D Printing Will Rock Paris — A Few Questions For: John Hornick

In every industry are individuals who effectively need no introduction; among those names in 3D printing is John Hornick. An intellectual property lawyer and prolific speaker, as well as now…

Intellectual Property is a Hot Topic at Second Annual Benesch 3D Printing Conference

I spent my day yesterday sitting in the main ballroom at Cleveland’s Ritz Carlton hotel with a few hundred attorneys, business leaders, and academics from across Northeast Ohio to discuss…

What NOT to Do When Using Sculpteo’s 3D Printing Services!

As more people begin to use 3D printing services, like those offered by Sculpteo, it is easy to detect frequently occurring mistakes from the long list of how-to’s involved with…

Protecting 3D Printed Designs – Can Trade Dress Rights Fill the Void?

Imagine you’ve designed a new product with 3D printing.  Thinking of ways to protect it can be a daunting challenge.  Hopefully, you’ll consider some basic agreements with any third parties…

Turn That Frown Upside Down: Thingiverse Users Win Against Shady eBay Seller

Remember that eBay seller that was bulk downloading Thingiverse 3D models and images and selling them in their store in violation of many of the designers’ creative commons licences? Well…

Shapeways on US Dept. of Commerce Report: Beware Remixes & Copyright Infringements—They Can Cost You Six Figures

There’s no better part of a beginning than that of a fledgling industry populated by passionate individuals all enjoying themselves and getting along, working for the common good—for about a…

Can the Sound of a 3D Printer Be a Security Threat? Researchers at the University of California Think So

Most people I know have been victims of a computer virus at one time or another. I certainly have, more than once, and it’s always incredibly stressful. Not only have…

Anti-Counterfeiting Measures Have a Lot to Offer in 3D Printing — A Few Questions For: InfraTrac

Counterfeiting is, put simply, a big deal. While 3D printing in particular is still somewhat of a Wild West when it comes to clear definitions of what is and is…

When eBay Sellers Try to Defend Their Illegal Sale of 3D Models from Thingiverse, Comedy Ensues

[Editor’s Update: Legal experts and the industry at large are certainly taking notice of this hullabaloo and weighing in — and we can’t say it looks good for the guys at just3dprint….

3D Printing Brings New Opportunities and New Challenges to the Oil & Gas Industry

As with most modern businesses, the Oil and Gas (O&G) industry has begun adopting 3D printing technology into its regular workflow in several key areas. It has proven itself to…

How Exactly Will 3D Printing Combat Counterfeiting Additive Manufactured Products?

The specter of counterfeit products is always a concern for any company that relies on other facilities to actually manufacture and assemble their products. From fake Rolex watches to fake…

Accidental Infringement: A Cautionary Tale of 3D Design & Intellectual Property

It’s not the first time this year a dress has caused controversy (and with Kim Kardashian probably on her way out of maternity wear, probably safe to say it won’t be…

Exclusive Interview: Legal Expert Marcus J. Thymian Examines Implications of Intellectual Property & Patent Law in 3D Printing

Intellectual property is, obviously, a hot issue in today’s world. With patents having been around for centuries–George Washington signed the first US patent back in 1790, for Samuel Hopkins’ method…

3D Printing’s Real Money

A few weeks ago, I spoke at the National Retail Federation’s Shop.org Digital Summit on the topic of 3D printing at retail. I really hope I made the case for…