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I think it is a good move. There are too many patent trolls and too many who think hard work (long hours, years of development and innovation) should be free.
Being defensive does not block anybody in and does protect the hard work of the individuals who make things we like to play and work with. I have seen way too many resources that have been offered for free only to be put up for sale elsewhere.
Time will tell how it is handled, but I can say I do approve and appreciate the need for it. A little too much jumping up and down about a positive move methinks in a few responses here.
And, there is way too much theft in the industry across the board. I was contacted by CGTrader to sell models. When I mentioned one of their models was found on another site for free, I heard nothing back from them. And, I have archived the emails in case someone wants to dispute this.
Basically they are either selling free work, or someone bought it and set if free in the wild. What was disturbing was that once this was pointed out, I never heard from them again.
We used to get paid for our work but somewhere, too many people decided everything was for free if it was on the internet. A lot of potential to make money, but a lot of risk too.
I think that this is a smart move by Ultimaker and the explanation given is very clear: when your company becomes bigger and starts to challenge the big guys, the game becomes tougher, and any innovation that is worth a lot of money can be easily patented by any company that may sue you and oblige you to stop using it. This has happenned a lot in corporate world and even startups must not be naive and imagine that this will not happen with them.
But...once you patent something you can decide wether you will allow other companies to use it or not, and in which special conditions. That's what Ultimaker is doing. Well done.
Are you a startup using 3D printing? Perhaps you should continue reading...
Together with BASF we are launching the Forward AM Innovation Award - the very first global contest for startups developing new applications with 3D printing!
Why apply?
The winning startup will receive €100,000 in goods and services*, along with coaching and marketing exposure from top-notch leaders in the industry.
Who can apply?
Your startup creates products using Additive Manufacturing, is less than 5 years old, and has less than 50 employees. We are looking for 3D printing applications with a strong focus on innovation, sustainability and scalability.
Dental aligners, shoes, tools, automotive parts, music instruments, industrial tooling and molding, medical implants, sports equipment, toys, architecture, fashion, construction... all are welcome to join!
Do you have an innovative, sustainable and scalable idea that leverages the unique possibilities of 3D printing? Then it is time to apply!
More information can be found here.
Applications close on March 28th, 2021
* What does "in goods and services" mean?
The winner will be able to pick any item from the overall product and service portfolio of the sponsors, e.g. printers, materials, consulting, software... Choose whatever you need to accelerate your startup.
Often getting started is the most difficult part of any process. A good start sets you up for success and saves you time and energy that could be spent elsewhere. That is why we have a onboarding course ready for
Ultimaker S5 Pro Bundle, Ultimaker S5, Ultimaker S3 Ultimaker 2+ Connect.
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kmanstudios 1,089
I think it is a good move. There are too many patent trolls and too many who think hard work (long hours, years of development and innovation) should be free.
Being defensive does not block anybody in and does protect the hard work of the individuals who make things we like to play and work with. I have seen way too many resources that have been offered for free only to be put up for sale elsewhere.
Time will tell how it is handled, but I can say I do approve and appreciate the need for it. A little too much jumping up and down about a positive move methinks in a few responses here.
And, there is way too much theft in the industry across the board. I was contacted by CGTrader to sell models. When I mentioned one of their models was found on another site for free, I heard nothing back from them. And, I have archived the emails in case someone wants to dispute this.
Basically they are either selling free work, or someone bought it and set if free in the wild. What was disturbing was that once this was pointed out, I never heard from them again.
We used to get paid for our work but somewhere, too many people decided everything was for free if it was on the internet. A lot of potential to make money, but a lot of risk too.
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celso-santos 11
I think that this is a smart move by Ultimaker and the explanation given is very clear: when your company becomes bigger and starts to challenge the big guys, the game becomes tougher, and any innovation that is worth a lot of money can be easily patented by any company that may sue you and oblige you to stop using it. This has happenned a lot in corporate world and even startups must not be naive and imagine that this will not happen with them.
But...once you patent something you can decide wether you will allow other companies to use it or not, and in which special conditions. That's what Ultimaker is doing. Well done.
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Share on other sites