Intellectual Property and Desktop 3D Printing: Law and Digital Innovation
By (Author) Plamen Dinev
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Hart Publishing
13th November 2025
United Kingdom
Professional and Scholarly
Non Fiction
Hardback
272
Width 156mm, Height 234mm
This innovative book explores the world of 3D printing from the perspective of intellectual property law, tackling theory and practice.
As 3D printing digitises tangibles and equips individual users with access to design and manufacturing tools, it also raises several pressing legal and policy issues. Does the IP framework largely designed in the analogue age adequately regulate the operation of the technology How should the law respond to piracy in a digital environment where copying is the norm, not the exception What are the sharing practices, norms and views on IP within the community Is the law actually a concern
To fully address these questions, the book begins with a contextual overview of 3D printings history and broader socio-economic impact. It explains why the desktop side of the technology is likely to be especially problematic when it comes to IP law and highlights key areas of concern. Drawing on its rich empirical data featuring world-leading experts, engineers, lawyers and users, it offers illuminating insights into the experiences and views of stakeholders before finally considering potential regulatory responses.
Original and forward-looking, this book is essential reading for academics, practitioners, 3D printing users and any reader interested in the rapidly evolving field of law and technology.
Plamen Dinev is Lecturer in Law at the University of Manchester, UK.