Publication: Canadian Electronics Magazine
Stories of new uses for 3D printing
seem to appear almost daily, as the technology finds its way into
everything from cases for mobile phones to firearms. As it moves
from industrial settings into classrooms, homes and beyond, this
transformative technology challenges intellectual property
rights.
What can be copied and reproduced?
Conversely, how can products be protected against unwanted copying
and reproduction?
There are no intellectual property
provisions exclusively dedicated to 3D printing. Rather, depending
on the context, 3D printing may engage any one or more of
copyright, trademarks, industrial designs and patents.
Copyright protects works that are
the product of creative expression. In other fields, copyright
protects anything from literary works to computer software. With 3D
printing, copyright may exist in some CAD files used to reproduce
an object (when created by a person), or in the artistic design
