The headline reads "3D Printer DRM Patent To Stop People Downloading a Car" and every reaction I've seen has been doom and gloom. But either I'm not reading this article right or everyone else isn't because when I read the article here's what I took away.
- It is a patent troll who's putting his finger on the patent before anyone else develops it.
- This troll has no desire to actually develop the technology, he just wants to get paid when someone else does.
- This could be the one time where a patent troll is actually working in our favor.
Usually patents and patent trolls in particular stifle innovation. Well, that's exactly what's happening here. Only it's an evil innovation that is being stifled. The serpent is eating it's own tail!
Read past the headlines. This is great news. Twisted and strange, but great news.
I think it would be poetic justice to see someone try to make a DRM-encumbered 3D printer and be sued out of existence by this patent troll.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, what about those that trademark their designs? I'm not sure if copyright can be applied specifically to a 3D design for a part, car, or somesuch (see Games Workshop's Warhammer 40k), but I can see companies using that as possible legal leverage to shut down people from making copies of parts or whole designs.
DRM has yet to work. It doesn't stop the pirates and it inconvinences the paying user.
ReplyDeleteSo what about trademark infringes? I agree that it sucks, but DRM is not the answer. Ever. Unless the question is "What is the worst possible answer to trademark infringement?" Maybe the answer is to give people what they want at a price they can afford. Be fair to people. Be the good guy.