Recently it was reported that the FDA sent a letter to a mobile app developer, Biosense Technologies Private Ltd., informing them that their app product, the uChek Urine analyzer, potentially required FDA clearance as a medical device. The FDA is…
Category: Main
3D Printing and IP on CBC Spark This week
I’ll be updating the blog in the next day or two with a new post about the concept of patent exhaustion as it relates to 3D printing. Until then, check out my interview on CBC Radio’s Spark this week discussing…
The Future in 3D: Guns, drugs and lawyers
I wrote an article surveying legal implications of 3D printing (from a Canadian perspective) for Lawyers Weekly with my colleague Ashlee Froese from Gilbert’s LLP. In the past three years, a feverish buzz has developed around 3D printing. The excitement…
NZ Customs Minister Asks Staff to Think About 3D Printing Implications
According to a Radio New Zealand interview posted at Engineering.com, New Zealand’s customs minister Maurice Williamson is asking his staff to consider the implications of 3D printing for border protection: In an interview with Radio New Zealand, Mr. Williamson…
Rep. Israel Promotes Expansion of Undetectable Firearms Act
First, an apology for the lack of posts! We’ll get back to talking 3D printing IP issues very shortly. But today, Forbes ran a story about how U.S. Rep. Steve Israel is actually trying to expand the coverage of the…
The Undetectable Firearms Act and 3D Printing
Huffington Post has an article today about the ongoing effort of U.S. Congressman Steve Israel to have the 1988 Undetectable Firearms Act renewed before its expiration at the end of the year. Israel’s efforts have found him at odds with…
Should Rightsholders Partner with Would-be Infringers?
Michael Weinberg of Public Knowledge has a new blog post in which he suggests that intellectual property rightsholders should embrace the 3D printing community, and actively partner with 3D designers and makers. He raises the Game of Thrones example that…
Patents and 3D Printing… some thoughts
If you go to the Timeline on the official Microsoft website, you’ll see a jarring quote: 1899: “Everything that can be invented has been invented.” – Charles H. Duell, Commissioner of U.S. Patents, urging President Mckinley to abolish his office.…
3D-Print-Yourself Machines Are Awesome – But Who Owns the Copyright?
Here’s a question that occurred to me today: There are these places popping up around the world where you can 3D print yourself. Makerbot lets you print your bust for a mere $25 at their store in NYC. There’s these…
About that “Pirate Bay” for 3D Printing…
By now, most people have heard about the website DEFCAD, a proposed “Pirate Bay” for sharing 3D printable designs without regard to intellectual property laws, regulations or take-down notices. DEFCAD is at least loosely related to Defense Distributed (also founded…