Sci/Tech 3D Printer DRM Patent To Stop People Downloading a Car

[tom_mai78101]

DRM systems in the digital media world are nothing new and are utilized extensively in the music, movie and video games industries. Now, after applying four years ago, a company has this week obtained a patent for a DRM system that aims to stop future owners of 3D printers from printing whatever they like. The dream of downloading a new pair of sneakers or even a car might already be in jeopardy, before it’s even begun.

During the last 20 years inkjet printers made an unholy mess of the short-run commercial print guy’s business, enabling just about anyone to print on anything from paper to plastics with a relatively tiny outlay.

During the next 20 years the 3D printer will be the bogeyman affecting industries both far and wide and large and small, by giving the man in the street the ability to print physical objects as easily as he can print a family photo today.

Downloading a car – or a pair of sneakers – will be entirely possible, although Ford and Nike won’t be particularly happy if people use their designs to do so. However, if The Pirate Bay have their way, that’s exactly what will happen.

Read more here.

 

[FireCat]

That sounds pretty ridiculous, right?

 

[Varine]

Not really. It's an emerging technology that could possibly impact the future sales of many companies. They're just being pre-emptive, which is a good business strategy.

 

[KaerfNomekop]

I think FireCat is referring to the fact that 3D printing is about to exist.

 

[Varine]

It already does exist.

 

[Dan]

It already does exist.

To be fair, there are some pretty obvious downfalls to "3d printing." It ill be immensely useful for some things, but entirely impractical for most.

 

[Varine]

I didn't say it was going to do anything you wanted it to. I just said it exists. I have one.

 

[Slapshot136]

I have to ask, can you print legos with that 3d printer?

and 20 years might pass before we can "print" metal/etc.

 

[Varine]

And yes you can. A CNC is more or less the same thing, though more useful.

And I guess I could make legos... wouldn't be very good legos, but I could do it I think.

 

[WildTurkey]

@Varine: its abit to ask but is there any chance of getting a pic?

 

[Varine]

If I ever go out to storage. It's kind of storage and doesn't fit in my apartment.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-Laser-3D-Printer-Stereolithography-at-Ho/

Looks kind of like that though.

 

[SouLEDGE]

I think it would be a quite a while before we could print a full car, don't get me wrong it will be done just not in the very near future, plus I wouldnt want to drive the first couple of cars that come out of a 3D printer for fear of it falling apart

 

[tom_mai78101]

World's first 3D printed guitar.

Source.


I believed, right now, 3D printing is considered practical.

 

[FireCat]

^ Looks cool, not sure how it would sound though?

 

[KaerfNomekop]

It already does exist.

I meant on a mass scale, where you can "print" pretty much anything.

 

[Varine]

It's not technologically beyond us. Just expensive.

 

[tom_mai78101]

^ Looks cool, not sure how it would sound though?

The source I provided said sound produced from it is nice to hear.

 

[FireCat]

The source I provided said sound produced from it is nice to hear.

But I still want to hear it.

 

[tom_mai78101]

But I still want to hear it.

Well, you'll need to ask the creator for permission, else you may get a DMCA notice.

 

[FireCat]

Well, you'll need to ask the creator for permission

Well, if we can't listen on it. then we can't say it sounds good.