7 years ago
6
As 3D printers break through, EU expands copyright to furniture and extends term by a century
The UK has just changed its copyright-and-patent monopoly law to extend copyright to furniture and to extend the term of that copyright on furniture with about a century. This follows a decision in the European Union, where member states are required to adhere to such an order. This change means that people will be prohibited from using 3D printing and other maker technologies to manufacture such objects, and that for a full century.
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Just how different does a piece of furniture have to be before it's not covered by the copyright of the original? Bigger, smaller, different shape, slightly different shape, different materials?
As the political elite shout out open borders and universal equality and free this and that, the forging of chains can be heard clanging in the background. Hear that friends, that's the sound of progress on their terms, not yours. In other words they will decide what the infringement means.
Exactly. They can copyright the table they manufacture, but not the concept of a table. As 3D printers become more capable and cheaper, I'm sure there will be plenty of open source furniture files in the public domain.
Well that will keep the lawyers employed for centuries. Here's a thought....you'll be able to design your own anyway. Uniqueness, one of a kind may take the place of that designer collector edition mystique....1 of 25,000.
I thought the UK was leaving the EU?
What if I were to sell chairs with a classic design but they only had 3 legs. I could include an extra leg in case one breaks and even a spot on the chair to attach it to so it would always be available but not ruin the chairs functionality or aesthetics. Or a chair with no legs which comes with a patented height adjustment module which fits on the bottom in case someone needs to keep the chair off the floor.