Legal War Over 3D Printing

[Destecado]

Interesting article from wired.com.

Clive Thompson on 3-D Printing’s Legal Morass

I felt it worth posting for what it may portend for the future of gaming and the gaming store.

[NateT]

Great article!  I had no idea the 3D printers were getting so affordable... that reminds me of the youtube video I saw recently where they scanned an adjustable wrench with a laser and "printed" a working copy.  Pretty awesome stuff.

[Sir_Prometheus]

It's really legally questionable GWs original takedown notice.....since it sounds like the designs the guy made were not direct copies of GW models.  And 90% of IG stuff is a direct copy of WW1 tanks and such anyway, so...........they got nothing.

[the_trooper]

Eh, GW is a bunch of blowhards.

But.

While the idea of printing one's own models seems awesome (there is cost involved), the idea of no BG is pretty much the opposite.

[Logan007]

Eh, GW is a bunch of blowhards.

But.

While the idea of printing one's own models seems awesome (there is cost involved), the idea of no BG is pretty much the opposite.

So obviously BG needs to buy and rent out a 3-D printer

Wait, I'm not sure if I've thought this cunning plan through....

[King of the Elves]

so bare with me here... how does a 3D printer work? Does it just print out 3D images or (in this case) actual "models" and what kind of toner/ ink does it use?

[Chase]

So obviously BG needs to buy and rent out a 3-D printer

It's been considered a time or two before.

[Loranus]

You create a 3d model in a modelling program such as autocad or autodesk inventor and it builds the model from the ground up. The one I had seen/used back in high school used a special powder and bonding liquid to print out the model in the printer. Problems at the.time was they were fragile especially if it wasn't solid but hollow inside.

[Logan007]

So obviously BG needs to buy and rent out a 3-D printer

It's been considered a time or two before.

I'm pretty sure the first thing Derek would do if that happened is print out another Chase.

[Chase]

If I could clone myself all of these ridiculous "problems" popping up lately would disappear.  That's for sure.

[Grand Master Steve]

It would be nice if i could make replacement parts for my Thunder Hawk. Just another thing for GW to get their panties in a twist over since they wont make me replacement parts.

[Wild Card]

When 3d printers break the 300 dollar mark, we'll have, like the author noted, a whole new argument over digital rights. And GW will either have to adapt or cease to sell models. Imagine if they could sell the designs, so that you could print your own 'legit' GW model.

We already see this in America, where GW places a good deal of demands on their independent retailers and in the officially sponsored events. Models must be X% GW material. Models must conform to rules A, B, and C.

I could easily see GW selling the designs, implementing some sort of mark (which they could copy right and circumvent the patent issue), and saying that in order to be included at any official event, the model must bear that. It wouldn't be perfect, and there'd still be those who found ways around it, but, it could work.

[bradpowers]

For what it's worth, I just printed myself some "Heart and Checker Marine" shoulder pads for my Lamenters on a 3d printer that I have access to.  They came out well, here's a picture with just a quick black wash to bring out the detail:



Not bad costwise, I made 20 shoulder pads for $4 worth of material, and about 3 hours of print time.

[Chase]

But I do.

[SyRael]

What 3d software did you use? AutoCAD? I am thinking of getting my school district to buy a Dimension 1200 for the robotics team. I would so use it to make warhammer crap.