Clear rules on who owns the right to a 3D printed product should help to fight counterfeiting, but also to protect the work of designers and printers. How do you see the industry’s future?



Although 3D printing is becoming more popular, it is not at the moment creating any major issues regarding the infringement of intellectual property law. Most customers and online printing services are professionals, especially designers or high-tech services run by large industrial companies who use this technique to produce prototypes or limited series objects.



There are few people on 3D file exchange platforms who reproduce a work protected by intellectual property law. Works of art are most at risk of counterfeiting. However, there could by copyright issues once 3D printing is used on an industrial scale.



We should also be careful regarding issues such as encryption and file protection in order to prevent people illegally downloading or reproducing these files and copyrighted objects or duplicating illicit objects.



It is also important to develop a legal offer for 3D printing so that people can print an object without breaking the law, while the original developer will still receive what they are entitled to.