Intellectual Property Series

The growth of 3D technologies impacts on intellectual property (IP) law, leading to a number of implications including copyright, design and licensing issues amongst others. Such challenges question the enforcement, object and purpose of IP laws whilst exploring the opportunities presented through this technology.

Building on the Commissioned Research carried out for the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) (2013-2015), the paper will first set out the findings, conclusions and recommendations from this project before moving on to a consideration of the AHRC-funded project titled ‘Going for Gold: A Legal and Empirical Case Study into 3D Scanning, 3D Printing and Mass Customisation of Ancient and Modern Jewellery’ (2015-2017).

In presenting the two funded projects and its findings, the paper will outline the IP issues arising from this emerging technology, whilst questioning the impact of 3D scanning and 3D printing on the future of IP law.

Speaker: Professor Dinusha Mendis (Professor of Intellectual Property Law and Co-Director of the Centre for Intellectual Property Policy and Management (CIPPM), Bournemouth University)