When learning about and utilizing 3D printing, it’s important to understand intellectual property (IP) protection to respect the rights of creators and inventors. IP laws safeguard designs, models, and inventions, ensuring that their creators can control and benefit from their use. As you explore 3D printing, be mindful of these protections to avoid unauthorized reproductions and respect the patents, copyrights, and trademarks associated with the digital files and objects you create or use.
Questions to Ask Yourself Before Beginning a 3D Printing Project
- Did you create this object and retain copyright? (only copyright owners may copy, transform and disseminate their creations without permissions or applying an exception in copyright law; if you did not create the object and/or own copyright, you may need to obtain permissions if the object is still protected by copyright)
- Is the object protected by copyright? Is it wholly useful or in the public domain? (Keep in mind that useful objects, or the useful components of objects with both useful and aesthetic characteristics are not protected by copyright.)
- Is the object protected by other intellectual property laws? (Useful objects, or the useful components of objects with both useful and aesthetic characteristics may be protected under other intellectual property laws, like patent law.)
- Is the design file protected by copyright or other intellectual property laws? (A design file for a useful object may be protected by copyright even if the 3D printed object is not.)
- Is the file licensed under Creative Commons or other licensing mechanism that allows your use? (When using material that has been issued with a CC license, you use must abide by the license terms; if the license does not permit commercial use, you will not be able to sell your work.)
- If you would like to license your file for sharing and/or remixing, choose a creative commons license for your file and include the license wherever you post your file.
- Is it a useful object? (Useful objects, or the useful components of objects with both useful and aesthetic characteristics are not protected by copyright )
- You will only be able to control the copying, display and dissemination of objects or parts of objects that are protected by copyright.
Your answers to these questions will help you determine whether you need to request permissions from the copyright owner and define what rights you will have as the creator of your 3D printed work.
Additional Resources:
3D Printing and Intellectual Property: Are the Laws Fit for Purpose?
Selling 3D Printed Items- Legal Guide
3 Steps for Licensing Your 3D Printed Stuff