4 ms·

The whole point of 3D printing is that you can create almost anything but they don't let you print your own files at Amazon?

by Istof 12y ago

delecti 12y ago
That opens up potential copyright/patent issues, I fully understand why they wouldn't want to risk it.
- Istof 12y ago
  Why don't they call their toys custom injection molding? it's a marketing ploy?
  - delecti 12y ago
    I'm not sure what you mean. Are you suggesting they're not actually 3d printed toys?
    - Istof 12y ago
      I'm sure that they are 3D printed but they are not offering the full benefits of 3D printing (and far from it) ... calling it 3D printing is almost irrelevant (although quality can sometime differ when using some types of 3D printing).
  - jonmrodriguez 12y ago
    Injection molding refers to a specific manufacturing process that Amazon is not using. http://www.vulcanmold.com/uploads/image/plastic-injection-molding-proces.jpg http://www.vulcanmold.com/uploads/image/plastic-injection-mo...
  - dmd 12y ago
    Because that would be completely wrong. It's not custom, and it's not injection molding. What they're doing isn't custom, and they're not claiming it is. It is 3D printing, and they are (correctly) claiming it is.
    - Istof 12y ago
      I was not talking about their 3D printed products... I was talking about their other products.... Fisherprice toys for example... Why don't they tell you how they where molded?
      - dmd 12y ago
        Ah, ok. That's a fair point.
- e12e 12y ago
  As far as I know physical goods cannot be copyrighted. You can (again AFAIK) legally copy an Ikea closet, by measuring the parts, and building similar parts. Now the actual design is copyrightable, but you'd not be violating copyright by taking an unauthorized copy and making a physical object. The person making the unauthorized copy of the design would be violating copyright. Patents are another issue. And trademarks. But you'd even be allowed to "reverse-engineer" eg: a cup (that is, measure it), and print a copy. This legal "hole" is likely to be plugged through lobbying and new legislation -- to the point where if you have a nice Ikea (or other) closet at home, you won't (technically) be allowed to make one that looks just like it for your other bedroom etc... but so far it is legal.
  - doughj3 12y ago
    > Patents are another issue. And trademarks. But you'd even be allowed to "reverse-engineer" eg: a cup (that is, measure it), and print a copy. I'm not sure that's correct. Patents restrict rights by granting exclusivity on making, using, or selling, so reverse engineering a patented cup and printing it is still in violation of the patent.
    - e12e 12y ago
      I was unclear. I meant that copying a cup would not be copyright infringement. That's what I meant by patents being a different issue.
MarkMc 12y ago
Then they would need to regulate the printing of guns, presumably
guiambros 12y ago
They have an option to "personalize" [1] the objects you're printing. I agree it's kinda missing the point, but they're likely focusing on the larger, mainstream, Etsy-style users. People that don't want (or don't know how) to create their own objects, but would like to get something semi-personalized. And, of course, they can avoid the entire discussion about copyright infringement, or printed guns. It's a safer first step. [1] http://www.amazon.com/Create-Your-Own-Printed-Mixee/dp/B00KDRVHGG/ref=lp_9302589011_1_11 http://www.amazon.com/Create-Your-Own-Printed-Mixee/dp/B00KD...

The whole point of 3D printing is that you can create almost anything but they don't let you print your own files at Amazon?

by Istof 12y ago

The whole point of 3D printing is that you can create almost anything but they don't let you print your own files at Amazon?

delecti 12y ago

That opens up potential copyright/patent issues, I fully understand why they wouldn't want to risk it.

Istof 12y ago
Why don't they call their toys custom injection molding? it's a marketing ploy?
- delecti 12y ago
  I'm not sure what you mean. Are you suggesting they're not actually 3d printed toys?
  - Istof 12y ago
    I'm sure that they are 3D printed but they are not offering the full benefits of 3D printing (and far from it) ... calling it 3D printing is almost irrelevant (although quality can sometime differ when using some types of 3D printing).
- jonmrodriguez 12y ago
  Injection molding refers to a specific manufacturing process that Amazon is not using. http://www.vulcanmold.com/uploads/image/plastic-injection-molding-proces.jpg http://www.vulcanmold.com/uploads/image/plastic-injection-mo...
- dmd 12y ago
  Because that would be completely wrong. It's not custom, and it's not injection molding. What they're doing isn't custom, and they're not claiming it is. It is 3D printing, and they are (correctly) claiming it is.
  - Istof 12y ago
    I was not talking about their 3D printed products... I was talking about their other products.... Fisherprice toys for example... Why don't they tell you how they where molded?
    - dmd 12y ago
      Ah, ok. That's a fair point.
e12e 12y ago
As far as I know physical goods cannot be copyrighted. You can (again AFAIK) legally copy an Ikea closet, by measuring the parts, and building similar parts. Now the actual design is copyrightable, but you'd not be violating copyright by taking an unauthorized copy and making a physical object. The person making the unauthorized copy of the design would be violating copyright. Patents are another issue. And trademarks. But you'd even be allowed to "reverse-engineer" eg: a cup (that is, measure it), and print a copy. This legal "hole" is likely to be plugged through lobbying and new legislation -- to the point where if you have a nice Ikea (or other) closet at home, you won't (technically) be allowed to make one that looks just like it for your other bedroom etc... but so far it is legal.
- doughj3 12y ago
  > Patents are another issue. And trademarks. But you'd even be allowed to "reverse-engineer" eg: a cup (that is, measure it), and print a copy. I'm not sure that's correct. Patents restrict rights by granting exclusivity on making, using, or selling, so reverse engineering a patented cup and printing it is still in violation of the patent.
  - e12e 12y ago
    I was unclear. I meant that copying a cup would not be copyright infringement. That's what I meant by patents being a different issue.

MarkMc 12y ago

Then they would need to regulate the printing of guns, presumably

guiambros 12y ago

They have an option to "personalize" [1] the objects you're printing. I agree it's kinda missing the point, but they're likely focusing on the larger, mainstream, Etsy-style users. People that don't want (or don't know how) to create their own objects, but would like to get something semi-personalized. And, of course, they can avoid the entire discussion about copyright infringement, or printed guns. It's a safer first step. [1] http://www.amazon.com/Create-Your-Own-Printed-Mixee/dp/B00KDRVHGG/ref=lp_9302589011_1_11 http://www.amazon.com/Create-Your-Own-Printed-Mixee/dp/B00KD...