3D printing is one of the priority areas of technology Globally. There exists an abundant literature which addresses how IP laws may theoretically be affected by the development of 3D printing. This literature often identifies the challenges for IP enforcement created by the development of Additive Manufacturing. IP rights are one of the most controversial issues in the discussion about AM and 3D printing and the need to adapt the IP regime is often questioned. Despite an abundance of literature, there is still a lack of consistency in the application of the law relating to 3D printing.
For example in 2017, the European Commission identified 3D printing as one of the main factors in bringing about industrial transformation. The Vanguard Initiative, a network of European regions which is dedicated to advancing industrial innovation in Europe, strengthens this ambition through its commitment to ‘high performance production through 3D printing’ as one of its pilot projects. This was further reinforced in November 2017 when the European Parliament published a Working Document which was adopted in July 2018 recognising the importance of Intellectual Property (IP) in the area of Additive Manufacturing.
| What is 3D Printing?
3D printing is a broad term for all relevant technologies adopting a process of joining materials, usually layer upon layer, to make objects from 3D model data. From its beginnings as Rapid Prototyping (RP) for creating a prototype for product development, 3D printing is now recognised as a manufacturing system, known as Rapid Manufacturing (RM), Digital Manufacturing (DM) or Direct Digital Manufacturing (DDM). |
Keeping these important developments in mind, Indian 3D Printing Network organised a webinar delivered by Sushanth Samudrala titled Legal aspects of 3D Printing. The webinar discussed the various legal implications involved in the development of Additive Manufacturing. It also provided detailed insights on various legal aspects in relation to 3D Printing including intellectual
