by Simon Bradshaw, Adrian Bowyer and Patrick Haufe — published in 2010

Read the document  @  http://www2.law.ed.ac.uk/ahrc/script-ed/vol7-1/bra…

This paper examines existing IP legislation and case law in the contexts of the possible wide take-up of this technology by both small firms and private individuals. It splits this examination into five areas: copyright, design protection, patents, trade
marks, and passing off. Reassuringly, and perhaps surprisingly, it is concluded that – within the UK at least - private 3D printer owners making items for personal use and not for gain are exempt from the vast majority of IP constraints, and that commercial
users, though more restricted, are less so than might be imagined.

Academic sector, Political/Regulatory/Legal, Economic, Technological, IPR, copyright, 3D printing, manufacturing, development