According to research by Gartner 3D printing may 2018 result in the breach of copyright losses up to $ 100 billion a year.
The same research also assumes that in the near future appears at least one large manufacturing company from western economies to publicly report the theft of intellectual property.
Protection of intellectual property and sources of revenue for authors
Copyright and intellectual property are protected worldwide laws of specific countries and agreements supranational organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO). Inventors and authors of their works and products most often protects patents, registering the copyright or industrial design. A patent is a legal guarantees protecting inventors and patent owner the exclusive right to use industrial invention. Copyrighted works that are the result of the creative activity of the author, then similarly protects copyright (copyright). Design of products, namely their right to their shape, color, material or decorating their authors most often protects registering the so-called industrial design.
"The authors of inventions and works of legal protection is essentially guarantee their livelihood. The owner of a patent, the invention can produce itself, thus cashing it. The author can also grant permission to use the invention to others in the form of the license agreement which guarantees the copyright owner a profit, "says Jan Škopík of 3Dfactories company that manufactures 3D printers. Production and illegal abuse of legally protected and registered inventions or works can therefore be seen as theft.
3D printing as a modern tool for copyright infringement?
3D printing technology can companies and individuals to facilitate violations of intellectual property rights in several ways. 3D scanners now allow you to copy the shape and texture of finished products. Accurate 3D scan of the object can then be easily converted into data bases for 3D printing. Once you are ready to print documents, 3D objects can be printed in various sizes and numbers. Simple copy the finished products on 3D printers is a threat to large industrial concerns, particularly in cases of secret velkovýroben counterfeit goods.
Copyrights can also break the direct extension files with the design of objects for 3D printing. It is already possible to portals such as Thingiverse find thousands of free models available to download for home 3D printing. Many of them come from fans of 3D printing, which alone objects are proposed and then give their work available for free. Not for each account but you can trace the origin of the work and have the assurance that you are sometimes not copied.
The range of sectors that may be copyright infringement through 3D printing impact, while wide. "On 3D printers can currently replicate especially plastic items. People can theoretically create copies kits, toys, jewelry, plastic parts design and home accessories, such as vases or statues. With the development of metallic materials for 3D printing and improving affordability serial counterfeiters may cause considerable losses as well as automotive and foundry industries, "says the issue Škopík.
Possibilities of authors and owners of patents in the era of 3D printing
Once rights owners find that their patents and the work has been misused, they can demand justice in the courts. Judicial enforcement is costly and also damaged companies do not always provide the desired publicity. In the case of massive abuse of copyright is a legal solution, of course, the first choice, but after the experience of similar cases in the music industry can not predict the outcome of such litigation. Counterfeit 3D prints can legally seize course. In the case of non-original 3D data models posted on the Internet, but even after the court order to delete can occur hundreds of identical files to other repositories.
However, there are methods that companies can use to protect their designs in advance. U.S. scientists from the Technical University in Virginia, for example, are experimenting with inserting tiny particles into the 3D printing materials. The particles should indicate the origin of the 3D printout and improve rozlišovatelnost original from the fake.
Other prevention methods include manufacturers adaptation to a new environment, such as access to digital 3D models of objects in the form of licenses and their direct sales on the Internet. Customers should for example be able to buy original designs children's kits directly from its author, which would guarantee the perfect quality of the design. Sales via the internet, however, would have to take place in a secure environment that prevented further spread of customer models.
As a bonus the authors of original designs to provide customers with more recent models, for example, returnable and technical support and innovation. For authorized sales models would also entice consumers could modify the model to measure directly from the author at guarantee with 100% quality 3D model. "Systems and software solutions for the sale of original 3D models and protection of source data files abroad has been developed. The experience of the music and the book industry, where similar systems embrace so as to allow legal downloading of copyrighted works, the 3D printing industry for good springboard. I believe that large manufacturing firms in addressing intellectual property and 3D printing will use these experiences. Prevention and availability of original works of value added is certainly a better solution than litigation, "says Jan Škopík.
Source: tz 3Dfactories