There have been many articles discussing the impact that 3D printing will have on the world of IP and the associated issues relating to copyright, trade marks , trade dress and ownership. Issues around trade mark ‘use’, however, have not been addressed in the same level of detail, if considered at all. Cody Wilson’s recent challenge (posted 6 May
@Radomysisky) against the U.S State Department brings this issue back into the Twittersphere, and serves as a reminder that the U.S State Department are treating the posting of a 3D-printable file to a website as constituting an ‘export’. The impact of a similar finding in a future case relating to the use of a trade mark would surely have a significant impact both on the liability of individuals using this technology and how brand owners approach the issue of using, enforcing and maintaining their rights on a global scale.