3 ms·

I'd like you to fill me in, are there actual corporate copyright trolls concerned about 3D printing? Or is this a hypothetical? (Sorry, I haven't kept up with

I'd like you to fill me in, are there actual corporate copyright trolls concerned about 3D printing? Or is this a hypothetical? (Sorry, I haven't kept up with the state of maker stuff.) What I mean is this an actual real-world issue today? If this is a hypothetical, please take this in the best possible way and bear in mind that you were downvoted, your comment is currently light-grey to me: personally just to me it sounds like you're preparing in advance to be in the wrong, i.e. you're preparing a moral and legal position for something that doesn't exist yet, nobody cares about 3D printed coprights ,but even though it doesn't exist yet you've already chosen the wrong side and have started to prepare snide, snark, and incorrect arguments so that you could defend being in the wrong - and that you can't wait to start being in the wrong. If this is the case, then you would be the troll in the conversation. It's just how I personally read your comment. But before we get ahead of ourselves - is this a future argument (are you ahead of your time), or has it started to be an issue already? can you give references? Sorry if I was hard in the middle paragraph, I've just literally never heard of a 3D printing copyright troll. I've just googled it and got some hypothetical articles from 2012. My own perspective is that society has a choice between, on the one hand: (A) letting some designer put 5,000 hours of work into designing something intricate thing that grants people huge amounts of utility, it's a fanstatic achievement that costs you $0.27 in plastic to print at home and gives you real benefits - but they rae charging $4.99 on Steam for the privilege, while addressing some level of piracy; and (B) on the one hand, the status quo where you don't get the utility (let's value at it $80) from the $0.27 piece of plastic, because nobody has designed it for you. It seems to me right now the status quo is (B). Obviously lots of great stuff could be made and 3d printed for pennies, that nobody has designed. Some guy designed a fully working tourbillon watch. (more like clock) Look at how he brazenly puts his name/logo on it http://hackaday.com/2016/01/11/3d-printed-tourbillon-clock/ http://hackaday.com/2016/01/11/3d-printed-tourbillon-clock/ Do you think he shouldn't have any level of copyright protection on these projects, if he wants it? Really? I'm just kind of angry because you're showing a level of entitlement over something that doesn't even exist yet. people don't really get lots of benefit from 3d printing intricately designed works at home.

gedy 11y ago
I'm more talking about control of self printing and use of baubles, etc ala Mickey Mouse figurines or whatever. There's already laws covering sale of copyrighted designs, so I'm referring about gov't and corporate control and regulation of printing, devices, etc.
- logicallee 11y ago
  I don't quite understand. You think I should just be able to print an Iron Man toy someone designs, maybe paying them directly for the privilege (of their designs), without the legitimate copyright owner having any say in the matter, and the person I buy it from having absolutely no right to sell those derivate works? I still don't see how the legit copyright owner is the troll in this conversation... I realize you're shifting over to the technology side - what's your specific objection? And, is it a hypothetical? Or is this something that is actually happening? Thanks for taking the time to respond to me. I just feel like you're arguing against a hypothetical that hasn't happened. It's like, you are creating a new non-existent debate just so you can be wrong about it. I realize this sounds extremely mean of me, but hopefully we can understand each other through this conversation. Thanks for your replies.
  - mikeash 11y ago
    I think the worry is that 3D printers themselves may become regulated, beyond the current state of copyright laws. Consider the VCR as a historical example. It's illegal to use it to bootleg copyrighted movies, but legal to use it for your own materials. However, the copyright lobby tried to shut down VCR sales entirely, and this case made it all the way to the US Supreme Court before being decided in favor of VCRs. I imagine some people are afraid that 3D printers might end up in a similar situation, perhaps with less favorable court rulings or legislators. Modern technology also opens up other options, such as requiring all 3D printers to include DRM technology. I don't know how likely any of this is, but the worries don't seem completely out there.

gedy 11y ago

I'm more talking about control of self printing and use of baubles, etc ala Mickey Mouse figurines or whatever. There's already laws covering sale of copyrighted designs, so I'm referring about gov't and corporate control and regulation of printing, devices, etc.

logicallee 11y ago
I don't quite understand. You think I should just be able to print an Iron Man toy someone designs, maybe paying them directly for the privilege (of their designs), without the legitimate copyright owner having any say in the matter, and the person I buy it from having absolutely no right to sell those derivate works? I still don't see how the legit copyright owner is the troll in this conversation... I realize you're shifting over to the technology side - what's your specific objection? And, is it a hypothetical? Or is this something that is actually happening? Thanks for taking the time to respond to me. I just feel like you're arguing against a hypothetical that hasn't happened. It's like, you are creating a new non-existent debate just so you can be wrong about it. I realize this sounds extremely mean of me, but hopefully we can understand each other through this conversation. Thanks for your replies.
- mikeash 11y ago
  I think the worry is that 3D printers themselves may become regulated, beyond the current state of copyright laws. Consider the VCR as a historical example. It's illegal to use it to bootleg copyrighted movies, but legal to use it for your own materials. However, the copyright lobby tried to shut down VCR sales entirely, and this case made it all the way to the US Supreme Court before being decided in favor of VCRs. I imagine some people are afraid that 3D printers might end up in a similar situation, perhaps with less favorable court rulings or legislators. Modern technology also opens up other options, such as requiring all 3D printers to include DRM technology. I don't know how likely any of this is, but the worries don't seem completely out there.