JOHN HORNICK an IP litigator at Finnegan, one of the world’s largest IP law firms, tells 3D Printing Industry News in his latest article his views on machines, design, materials, bio printing, IP and crime.

On Design, John says:

“In the next five years we will see powerful design software and design training that breaks the paradigms of Design for Manufacture, graduating a new breed of designers fully capable of making full use of the power of 3D printing. Designs will be increasingly organic, less linear. They will look more like they were grown than built, more like Mother Nature’s designs. Parts will be increasingly topologically optimized and biomimetic. Designers have already started to explore the tip of this iceberg. I show some great examples in my book.”

On Intellectual Property, he says:

“3D printing machine innovations will force incumbent 3D printing companies to travel down R&D paths they may not otherwise have trod, which will be necessary to compete, but will also generate patent wars absent a savior, such as a patent pool. A patent pool could free the industry to develop (radio developed under a patent pool that became known as RCA), largely unhindered by patent litigation. But the industry probably will not accept a pool, so patent wars are likely.”

He continues,

“As the visionary counsel for ACID (Anti-Copying in Design), Nick Kounoupias, said to me, “criminals tend to be early adopters of technology.” Criminals and others are already 3D printing detectable and undetectable weapons and fake facades for bank machines. All of the strengths that make this technology a disruptor for manufacturing can also make it a powerful instrument for crime. The next five years will see the increased use of 3D printing for criminal activities, away from control.”

Click here to read the full article.