Print your own counterfeit trainers: Is 3D piracy closer than we think?
- Pirate Bay starts offering 'blueprints' of 3D objects to 'steal'
- People would steal designs then 'print out' objects
- Copyright groups say if it takes off, 'Everything would go out the window'
By
Amy Oliver
Last updated at 8:01 PM on 1st February 2012
'Stealing' trainers by downloading a blueprint then covertly printing out a 'copy' at home may seem like the work of science fiction.
But the concept could be a reality sooner than we think.
Last week file-sharing site The Pirate
Bay introduced a new category called 'Physibles' designed to allow
people to share physical objects for download via 3D printing
technology. Home 3D printers to 'print out' objects already exist.
Copyright group the Anti-Counterfeiting Group said that if this becomes widespread, 'Everything would go out the window. You would need another law.'
Last week file-sharing site The Pirate Bay introduced a new category called 'Physibles' designed to allow people to share physical objects for download via 3D printing technology
People would simply steal 'designs' then 3D printers would create the objects, 'printing' 3D objects using plastics.
So far, printers are able to print out solid plastic models, rather than complex objects such as trainers.
'I see a big future for 3D printers in personal-scale applications that will unfold over the next decade,' said Hod Lipson, a Cornell University associate professor.
'When you unleash this capability to make physical objects in any shape or form, the implications are tremendous.'
He predicted that users would be able to 'download your own sneakers within 20 years.'
Ruth Orchard, director general of the Anti-Counterfeiting Group, told MailOnline if actual, physical objects like trainers could be printed it could present 'another step change in trying to protect people's rights'.
'At the moment it’s difficult
enough with the internet,' she said. 'But if you could actually transfer an object and then print it everything would go
straight out the window.'
'There would have to be another law.'
A sculpture printed using a 3D printer - at present, the printers are best at printing out solid 3D objects such as this, but in future may be capable of more complex models
THE SITE THAT STEALS ANYTHING: PIRATE KINGS SET SAIL AGAIN
Pirate Bay, the file-sharing site which began offering 3D 'blueprints' to download, looks set to continue being a thorn in the side of lawmakers and copyright holders - despite legal difficulties and prison sentences.
Although the Swedish Supreme Court refused to allow its founders to appeal against their prison sentences, the site itself looks set to survive.
After the court decision, it changed its domain name from .org to .se to avoid the attentions of U.S. lawmakers. The owners told Torrentfreak that the move was to pre-empt legal action from U.S. authorities.
Pirate Bay said in a statement, '2012 is the year of the storm. The Pirate Bay will reach an age of 9 years. Experiencing raids, espionage and death threats, we’re still here. We’ve been through hell and back and it has made us tougher than ever.'
Ms Orchard added the technology could throw trademarks into the same dilemma as copyright is facing currently with illegal music and film downloads.
'We’re just getting our heads around the internet but this is a whole new Pandora’s box,' she said.
The group is not currently looking into counterfeiting via 3D printing, but Ms Orchard said it would if it became a reality and caused a concern for its members.
However, Stuart Miles, founder and CEO of leading gadget site Pocket-lint.com, told MailOnline the notion of counterfeiting goods via 3D was 'not even worth thinking about.'
Mr Miles said that the technology of 3D printing could end up like the replicator in Star Trek - capable of creating and recycling physical objects.
But for now, it's in its infancy, said Miles.
'At the moment you can print things like chess pieces and fun things for your desk,' he said.
'Printing a pair of trainers could be 20 or 30 years away and by then manufacturers will be able to work around it.
'We're talking about the dawn of a new technology, it's still years and years away.'
Just to clear up a couple of misconceptions on here. I work for one of the biggest print device companies in the world if not the biggest and know for a fact as i've seen it working a printer that prints in 3D but can print through all the scales from hard plastic to soft rubber. I have seen this device print a whole (scaled down) Formula 1 car complete with rubber, rotating tyres in one piece. So while you could print a trainer you would actually wear everyday, you could print a fully working prototype to test form, fit and function before moving on to manufacturing.
- Dan, Fareham UK, 02/2/2012 12:54
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