IP in 3D

JD Supra reports on the various intellectual property issues presented by the rising popularity of 3D printing, a technology that is taking the law into uncharted territory.  For example, trademark law may cover the branding of the 3D printed product, copyright and trade secret law may cover the “blueprint” of the product design, trade dress and design patent law may cover the appearance of the product, and patent law may cover the utility of the product or the printing process itself.  However, because the technology essentially enables users to print whatever they want, the existing legal framework for IP protection may prove inadequate to prevent or police the unauthorized manufacture of infringing or counterfeit goods.  As is often the case, the law may have trouble keeping up with the rapid pace of technological development.  Read the full article here.

By Tiia Monto (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

By Tiia Monto (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

Reposted from JD Supra.