4 ms·

3d printing is theft. You wouldn't shoplift a toy, so why would you print it?

nathos 14y ago
Reminds me of Cory Doctorow's "Printcrime": http://craphound.com/overclocked/Cory_Doctorow_-_Overclocked_-_Printcrime.html http://craphound.com/overclocked/Cory_Doctorow_-_Overclocked...
- chrislloyd 14y ago
  I really enjoyed reading that. Thank you for linking to it.
- daeken 14y ago
  One of my favorite of his stories. I'd strongly recommend his novel 'Makers' as well, if you're into this sort of thing.
  - svdad 14y ago
    Oddly, I just finished reading that. Can't say it's terribly prescient -- it was published just three years ago -- but it does echo lots of things that are just happening now.
    - derleth 14y ago
      SF authors have always predicted the present. Given that most people seem immersed in the past, this works for them.
twmb 14y ago
How is that a theft at all? You know the part and can replicate its look... why not? You wouldn't steal a cake, so why would you bake it?
- ryusage 14y ago
  You know, at first glance, it seems like 3d printing has exactly the same issues as music and movies, but you make an awesome point. It's actually far, far more complicated.
harshreality 14y ago
Companies will resort to making patent or trade dress claims against people who offer 3d printing schematics. When the court system decides that Samsung can't make a phone that looks sort of like an iPhone, it's a good bet that courts will find that it's illegal to print, or assist printing of, a replica of some $megacorp object or part.
- Dove 14y ago
  The question is, which will happen first -- viable 3d printing of useful items, or the generation that grew up on Napster getting old enough to write the laws?
  - nitrogen 14y ago
    Will the Napster generation be able to maintain its ideology for the 30-40 years it will take to get them into office? Will they just represent another archaic viewpoint when compared to their future grandchildren?
- rangibaby 14y ago
  So in 10-20 years, we'll be exactly where we are now?[1] https://thepiratebay.se/browse/605 https://thepiratebay.se/browse/605

Reminds me of Cory Doctorow's "Printcrime": http://craphound.com/overclocked/Cory_Doctorow_-_Overclocked_-_Printcrime.html http://craphound.com/overclocked/Cory_Doctorow_-_Overclocked...

chrislloyd 14y ago
I really enjoyed reading that. Thank you for linking to it.
daeken 14y ago
One of my favorite of his stories. I'd strongly recommend his novel 'Makers' as well, if you're into this sort of thing.
- svdad 14y ago
  Oddly, I just finished reading that. Can't say it's terribly prescient -- it was published just three years ago -- but it does echo lots of things that are just happening now.
  - derleth 14y ago
    SF authors have always predicted the present. Given that most people seem immersed in the past, this works for them.

twmb 14y ago

How is that a theft at all? You know the part and can replicate its look... why not? You wouldn't steal a cake, so why would you bake it?

ryusage 14y ago
You know, at first glance, it seems like 3d printing has exactly the same issues as music and movies, but you make an awesome point. It's actually far, far more complicated.

harshreality 14y ago

Companies will resort to making patent or trade dress claims against people who offer 3d printing schematics. When the court system decides that Samsung can't make a phone that looks sort of like an iPhone, it's a good bet that courts will find that it's illegal to print, or assist printing of, a replica of some $megacorp object or part.

Dove 14y ago
The question is, which will happen first -- viable 3d printing of useful items, or the generation that grew up on Napster getting old enough to write the laws?
- nitrogen 14y ago
  Will the Napster generation be able to maintain its ideology for the 30-40 years it will take to get them into office? Will they just represent another archaic viewpoint when compared to their future grandchildren?
rangibaby 14y ago
So in 10-20 years, we'll be exactly where we are now?[1] https://thepiratebay.se/browse/605 https://thepiratebay.se/browse/605