Is .stl a free and open format? We want to add .stl support to Wikipedia

Is .stl a free and open format? We want to add .stl support to Wikipedia Hi I'm helping to bring 3D file support to Wikimedia and we have a question about the .stl file format. [phabricator.wikimedia.org] We know that 3D Systems created it but want to know if they still have a patent or some other legal rights over the format? Wikimedia projects only allow free formats [commons.wikimedia.org] If anyone has any information it would be really helpful. Thanks very much John https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,701417,701417#msg-701417 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 19:12:08 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,701417,701504#msg-701504 Re: Is .stl a free and open format? We want to add .stl support to Wikipedia https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,701417,701504#msg-701504
They could just have already given up any idea of that format being their property.]]> DeuxVis General Wed, 17 Aug 2016 17:07:35 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,701417,701491#msg-701491 Re: Is .stl a free and open format? We want to add .stl support to Wikipedia https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,701417,701491#msg-701491

Quote
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents ).

Mike]]> leadinglights General Wed, 17 Aug 2016 15:40:16 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,701417,701456#msg-701456 Re: Is .stl a free and open format? We want to add .stl support to Wikipedia https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,701417,701456#msg-701456
The Github viewer may be helpful, thanks. The problem is whilst nearly every 3D platform uses .stl in one way or another I can't find out if its a truly open formation (no patents still existing etc).

Cheers

John]]> John Cummings General Wed, 17 Aug 2016 12:38:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,701417,701431#msg-701431 Re: Is .stl a free and open format? We want to add .stl support to Wikipedia https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,701417,701431#msg-701431 GitHub has had STL support for years.

The format is so simple and widely used that it is hard to imagine 3D Systems trying to (or being able to) restrict its usage.]]> MattMoses General Wed, 17 Aug 2016 10:43:37 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,701417,701417#msg-701417 Is .stl a free and open format? We want to add .stl support to Wikipedia https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,701417,701417#msg-701417
I'm helping to bring 3D file support to Wikimedia and we have a question about the .stl file format.

[phabricator.wikimedia.org]

We know that 3D Systems created it but want to know if they still have a patent or some other legal rights over the format? Wikimedia projects only allow free formats

[commons.wikimedia.org]

If anyone has any information it would be really helpful.

Thanks very much

John]]> John Cummings General Wed, 17 Aug 2016 09:07:47 -0400