Can I post online CAD models of anything proprietary that I own?

Hello guys, I don't know if there are attorneys among fellow reprappers but I have a maybe strange question:

Is it legal to publish online CAD models that I have created based on pictures/other CAD models / 3D scans / measurements that I have made / etc of items I have purchased and I own?

For example recently one of my hand blenders broke and I am pretty frustrated that I can't find replacement parts and I have the idea that in future all items one purchases will have digital files that come with the purchase so one can print or have a shop manufacure the replacement part based on a valid CAD model.

But meanwhile I believe we, the consumers, can measure/3D scan/etc and make CAD models so others can benefit. I am thinking of a collaborative platform where many owners of the same item can work together and build different parts of their item. This is possible on Onshape right now.

But is it legal? Can one company ask you to remove a CAD model you have built? You might have used a lot of help to build it, even pictures from their site or CAD models they offer for different parts but not the whole. Where can I find more information of the rights we have for the items we own?

Thanks.

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RepRap Lander concept on Concept Forge
RepRap Lander concept on RepRap Forums
My Things, mostly experimental stuff

Not an attorney but... A manufacturer has a patent or copyright on a design, it isn't relevant how you copy it, if you copy it then they have legal recourse and will use it if you publish, distribute or manufacture and sell their design. You might buy a hand blender but you own that particular hand blender, not the rights to use the design to make as many of their blenders as you want. Make one for yourself no one will care, make hundreds and they'll take notice. Think copying dvd's or ebooks no problem for personal use but if you're selling or giving away a lot of them...

Whilst there might be a movement from reprappers to design and make something and sell it with stls, think of mutley3d's flex3drive which follows this model, you and I are not going to convince Apple, Samsung, Magimix, Dyson, etc... To release the thing that makes them rich - their intellectual property.

The Chinese get away with it as a UK company can't sue for copyright infringement in China, at least not easily. E3d clones for example, we still buy them as they're 1/4 the price. E3d would love to shut this down but they can't.

You can design a new hand blender which is just legally different enough to be not considered a copy of anyone else's design (that's likely to take you to court) and make it open source and we can all make one.

I love open source and think it's the way forward but I can see the argument from both sides. Take Dyson, they're always banging on about their digital motor in their handheld vacuums, I thought this was a load of marketing BS but it turns out they've spent £100million over 10 years to make a motor that small, reliable and high rpm. Should I just be able to download the spec and make one for a few £? Maybe... But what if I want to make a few thousand and sell them for half of the price Dyson charge?

3d printing is currently analogous to the advent of home 2d printers which threatened the printing industry or the advent of the cd burner which threatened the music industry. There will be a massive effort to protect big business' ability to control something to keep their position safe. Ultimately the music and printing industry lost the battle but continued anyway in a different form. Traditional manufacturing and design will continue but will not be able to take for granted that they control the ability to make things.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/16/2016 05:14AM by DjDemonD.

I measure things and create models and post them all the time. The purpose isn't to duplicate the item- it is to enable people to use the item.

Example, I measured and posted a model of the BullDog XL extruder even before I put it into my printer- I had to measure it so I could design the extruder carriage to fit it and there were no models or drawing available on line. The way I see it, I did the people who make that extruder a favor by making it easier for other people to use the thing.

[www.youmagine.com]
[www.youmagine.com]
[www.youmagine.com]
[www.youmagine.com]

All contain models of manufactured objects.

Don't lose any sleep over patents, designs, etc., unless you're planning on creating a commercial product. No one is going to bother you about it, even if your purpose in posting is to enable others to duplicate a part. If you were a big corporation with deep pockets, you'd be a target, but a hobbyist working in his basement? Pffft!

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Ultra MegaMax Dominator 3D printer: [drmrehorst.blogspot.com]

I say post it, if they care they will issue a take down notice and you take it down... no fuss, no worry.

NB Games Workshop (the warhammer 40k people) are extremely anal, if you do re-create one of their models and post it they do complain about it... (this has happened a number of times)

See some details here