Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

The Corporate CounselorKickerFeaturesSectionsNewsLJN Newsletters

You First: Manufacturing, IP, and the Coming 3D Printing Disruption

By Bryan J. Vogel
April 02, 2015

Like it or not, the manufacturing industry looks like it will be first in line to feel the potential transformative impact of 3D printing or additive manufacturing. A number of factors are combining to push manufacturing out of the chute first. Many manufacturers have already embraced 3D printing, making the technology an essential part of at least some of their manufacturing processes. When combined with advancements in other areas like open-source software and robotics, 3D printing seems destined to redefine the manufacturing supply chain and manufacturers' approach to mass production, customization, consumer demand, and global logistics.

At the same time, changes in intellectual property (IP) law unrelated to 3D printing will impact the disruption in manufacturing. Patent litigation in general has become more unpredictable and expensive. And some say the Supreme Court recently made patenting software ' the ghost in the 3D printing machine ' significantly more difficult. These changes make it harder to choose what rights to protect and what kind of protection to claim for proprietary innovation.

This premium content is locked for LJN Newsletters subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs Image

The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.

Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations Image

This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.

Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough Image

There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.

Compliance Officers: Recent Regulatory Guidance and Enforcement Actions and Mitigating the Risk of Personal Liability Image

This article explores legal developments over the past year that may impact compliance officer personal liability.