Is 3D printer company Bambu Lab trying to patent everything about 3D printing?

Is 3D printer company Bambu Lab trying to patent everything about 3D printing?(patents.google.com)

29 points by botolo 3 years ago | 16 comments

botolo 3 years ago |

Today there were several threads on different social media platforms related to the number of patents filed by Bambu Lab, covering many aspects of 3d printing already existing and the subject of open source work

realitysballs 3 years ago | |

I think the legal term here is: Common knowledge

pcdoodle 3 years ago | | |

Perhaps this patenting creating a chilling effect?

These patent seekers are almost like domain squatters, not adding value but wants to own an idea without actually producing a sizable market themselves.

bb88 3 years ago |

This is from the prusa blog. RepRap started out originally as open source.

https://blog.prusa3d.com/the-state-of-open-source-in-3d-prin...

It's worth noting that in 2022, Prusa had 0 patents assigned to them.

https://www.fabbaloo.com/news/which-3d-print-company-has-the...

aix1 3 years ago |

I looked through the list and only one of the patents is granted outside China (and, at a glance, appears to be novel): https://patents.google.com/patent/CN113246473A/en

P.S. I have no idea what patent practices are like in China.

BoorishBears 3 years ago | |

That's the default pressure advance K factor test that's been used for years. Literally no way they can claim that's novel.

bb88 3 years ago | |

Maybe it's novel? Who really knows though unless you want to spend time through the sprawling patent system. Or the body of work that encompasses the open source rep rap community.

Steltek 3 years ago |

No surprises really. Bambu was clearly a commercial/proprietary enterprise. A lot of their employees come from DJI, which is equally locked down. The only reason they released their slicer software is because of the GPL (hey, it works!).

WrtCdEvrydy 3 years ago | |

> A lot of their employees come from DJI, which is equally locked down.

Why does this suddenly make sense with the proprietary hotends and other magic...

Ankaios 3 years ago |

Maybe we should propose legislation for an IP black hole list. If too many of a company's patents are invalidated, the company loses the ability to create or hold patents.

jojobas 3 years ago | |

Start another company, continue.Good luck untangling double dutch sandwiches. Nothing but monetary punishment works, unless you're willing to jail executives.

eigenvalue 3 years ago | | |

Patents have to be issued in the name of people (although they can ultimately be assigned to companies). So you could institute some kind of ban for 10 years or something if too many of the person's patent applications turn out to be total BS.

Ankaios 3 years ago | | |

Yeah, I agree. I had a similar thought while writing the note. Some sort of ban is an entertaining thought, but hiding ownership is probably too easy for bans to make a meaningful difference.

vikramkr 3 years ago | |

Looks like most of these patents are in china. I would be curious to see how these do in a us filing given how much prior set they'd have to navigate around in 3d printing

nummerfuenf 3 years ago |

Those are still pending and probably won't go through. That stuff is old tech and considered state of the art. It's like you're trying to patent the wheel.