>Is this true? I'm skeptical. I own hundreds of MP3s legitimately bought from amazon.com without any DRM on them. The existence of these files on my computer ar

>Is this true? I'm skeptical. I own hundreds of MP3s legitimately bought from amazon.com without any DRM on them. The existence of these files on my computer are in no way evidence of any infringement. Only if I were to share these files online without first securing the right to do so do I infringe. It is the act, not the file that is illegal. What they mean is that digital files can be infringing under the right circumstance (it's an unlicensed copy). In contrast to patents, where the actual product has to exist or the method has to be practiced. A blueprint for product is not itself infringing. I wouldn't say that a digital file can never be infringing (because I think it could under limited circumstances when the claims are claiming a digital file), but if you have a patent on a widget, the CAD file for that widget isn't infringing. >Secondly, they are painting an incomplete picture here. You are either selling patented 3D files, which should be illegal, or you are working with them personally, which should remain legal in the spirit of promoting innovation. But what about collaboration, which requires sharing these files? 3D Printing Designers often share their designs in order to solicit feedback. What happens if I send my design to a someone on 3DHubs to have them print it for me? I'm pretty pro-IP, but I think there are good reasons not to call patented 3D infringing articles. The big reason is reverse engineering. I think we can handle this issue with the induced and indirect infringement law already on the books. The article points out that the alleged inducer has to know about the patent to be found liable. But that is a good thing. The last thing we need is for patent trolls to go around extorting people. It would protect people from say, molding specific products (that are marketed with a valid patent number) because that puts you on notice that there is a patent covering the product. And if someone is innocently distributing a file that infringes, then you can send them a letter informing them of the patent and they'll be forced to stop or risk damages.