Socio-Legal Aspects of the 3D Printing Revolution

Additive manufacturing or ‘3D printing’ has emerged into the mainstream in the last few years, with much hype about its revolutionary potential as the latest ‘disruptive technology’ to destroy existing business models, empower individuals and evade any kind of government control. This book examines the trajectory of 3D printing in practice and how it interacts with various areas of law, including intellectual property, product liability, gun laws, data privacy and fundamental/constitutional rights. A particular comparison is made between 3D printing and the Internet as this has been, legally-speaking, another ‘disruptive technology’ and also one on which 3D printing is partially dependent. This book is the first expert analysis of 3D printing from a legal perspective and provides a critical assessment of the extent to which existing legal regimes can be successfully applied to, and enforced vis-à-vis, 3D printing. Acknowledgements 6 Contents 8 Chapter 1: Regulating Revolution: An Introduction to 3D Printing and the Law 9 This Book’s Approach 10 A Brief History of 3D Printing 12 The Revolutionary Promise of 3D Printing 16 3D Printing as the End of Scarcity: Atoms Also Want to Be Free 16 3D Printing as the End of Control 19 Technodeterminism 20 Outline of This Book 24 Chapter 2: ‘You Wouldn’t Download a Car’: 3D Printing and Intellectual Property 26 A Brief Introduction to Intellectual Property 27 Intellectual Property’s Intersection with 3D Printing 30 Copyright 30 Computer-Aided Design File 31 Design for the Eventual Object 32 3D Printed Object 35 Patents 36 Designs 39 Registered Designs 40 Unregistered Designs 41 Trade Marks and Passing Off 42 Intellectual Property in Practice 46 File-Sharing Disputes 46 Corporate Appropriation? 50 3D Printing, Intellectual Property, and Industry 51 The Risks of Overenforcement 53 Conclusion 54 Chapter 3: Replicating Ruin: Printing Dangerous Objects 55 The Liberator and Gun Control 56 Reaction of US Law Enforcement 58 Ongoing Legal Battle 60 History of ITAR 61 First Amendment and 3D Printed Guns 64 Second Amendment and 3D Printed Guns 65 Other Legal Responses to the Liberator 66 USA 66 Australia 67 Post-Control? 70 Consumer Safety 71 Product Liability Law 71 Medical Regulation 77 Medical Device Regulation 80 Product Liability 83 Negligence 83 Conclusion 86 Chapter 4: Selfies in Another Dimension: The Implications of 3D Scanning 87 Intellectual Property and Reverse Engineering 88 Copyright 88 Patents 91 Design Rights 91 Trade Marks 91 Scanning in Practice 92 Privacy and Surveillance 92 Conclusion 100 Chapter 5: Conclusion: Between Control and Chaos 101 Bibliography 107 Cases 107 Legislation 108 Secondary Sources 110 Index 122 Additive Manufacturing Or '3d Printing' Has Emerged Into The Mainstream In The Last Few Years, With Much Hype About Its Revolutionary Potential As The Latest 'disruptive Technology' To Destroy Existing Business Models, Empower Individuals And Evade Any Kind Of Government Control. This Book Examines The Trajectory Of 3d Printing In Practice And How It Interacts With Various Areas Of Law, Including Intellectual Property, Product Liability, Gun Laws, Data Privacy And Fundamental/constitutional Rights. A Particular Comparison Is Made Between 3d Printing And The Internet As This Has Been, Legally-speaking, Another 'disruptive Technology' And Also One On Which 3d Printing Is Partially Dependent. This Book Is The First Expert Analysis Of 3d Printing From A Legal Perspective And Provides A Critical Assessment Of The Extent To Which Existing Legal Regimes Can Be Successfully Applied To, And Enforced Vis-a-vis, 3d Printing. Regulating Revolution : An Introduction To 3d Printing And The Law -- 'you Wouldn't Download A Car' : 3d Printing And Intellectual Property -- Replicating Ruin : Printing Dangerous Objects -- Selfies In Another Dimension : The Implications Of 3d Scanning -- Conclusion : Between Control And Chaos. Angela Daly. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Additive manufacturing or '3D printing' has emerged into the mainstream in the last few years, with much hype about its revolutionary potential as the latest 'disruptive technology' to destroy existing business models, empower individuals and evade any kind of government control. This book examines the trajectory of 3D printing in practice and how it interacts with various areas of law, including intellectual property, product liability, gun laws, data privacy and fundamental/constitutional rights. A particular comparison is made between 3D printing and the internet as this has been, legally-speaking, another 'disruptive technology' and also one on which 3D printing is partially dependent. This book is the first expert analysis of 3D printing from a legal perspective and provides a critical assessment of the extent to which existing legal regimes can be successfully applied to, and enforced vis-a-vis, 3D printing."--Page four of cover Front Matter....Pages i-vii Regulating Revolution: An Introduction to 3D Printing and the Law....Pages 1-17 ‘You Wouldn’t Download a Car’: 3D Printing and Intellectual Property....Pages 19-47 Replicating Ruin: Printing Dangerous Objects....Pages 49-80 Selfies in Another Dimension: The Implications of 3D Scanning....Pages 81-94 Conclusion: Between Control and Chaos....Pages 95-100 Back Matter....Pages 101-122