This commissioned project/report for the European Commission explores the IP Implications of the Development of Industrial 3D Printing from a European perspective. The report aims to enhance the European business sector and foster innovation. Through a legal and empirical analysis, involving qualitative data drawn from interviews with 41 industry stakeholders, the findings from the project demonstrates the areas which needed to be addressed – and resolved.
The existing studies aiming to quantify the magnitude and economic impact of illegal IPTV coherently report on the rising trend of unauthorised IPTV proliferation in global markets. This report has been carried out to estimate the number of individuals involved in consumption of unauthorised IPTV as well as to assess the potential revenue generated by copyright infringing IPTV providers.
This Report is the outcome of a knowledge exchange scheme which brings together academics (from the disciplines of law, media & communication studies, management and economics), policy makers from the Intellectual Property Office (an executive agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) and media businesses (in particular transmedia SMEs) to generate and disseminate new knowledge about the use of public domain works.
Study I – which is the first of a two-part Study, considers the implications for intellectual property law, particularly copyright law, as a result of online sharing platforms dedicated to 3D printing. As such, this Study applies a legal and empirical analysis, to provide a clearer understanding of ‘how’ the sharing happens to provide an understanding of the ‘parameters’ for sharing, e.g. terms and conditions, rules, regulations that apply, together with restrictions and bounds that apply to user behaviour and file-sharing.
The Executive Summary reports the purpose, scope, methodology and key findings from two complementary studies on the intellectual property implications of 3D printing. The two Studies provide for an overarching empirical and legal analysis into the current position of 3D printing.
The shift in manufacturing capability has raised questions relating to intellectual property law. 3D printing now paves the way for modified, replicated and changed parts which could then be shared, used and sold. This clearly has implications for intellectual property owners.
