Can You Patent 3D Printing Innovations? Everything You Need To Know
Can you patent 3D printing innovations? The answer hinges on several factors. Intellectual property is pivotal in patenting 3D printing innovations, and the path to…
[INDUSTRY]3D printing and additive manufacturing
3D printing patent attorneys for additive manufacturing teams
We protect the printer, the process, the material and the printed product, filed before the design file is shared. One flat fee for each step.
Your attorneys
Andrew RapackeManaging Partner · Registered Patent AttorneyElectrical and computer engineering. Former Naval Engineering Officer.
Ken BrooksRegistered Patent AttorneySoftware, AI and machine learning, electrical and mechanical systems.
[01]Who it's for
For the people who build with additive manufacturing.
From a startup building a new printer to a brand selling printed products, the work starts the same way. Find out what is new, then protect it before the machine, the material or the file is shared.
Printer and hardware makers
Printers, print heads, build platforms and the hardware that makes printing faster, more accurate or able to use new materials.
Materials developers
Powders, resins, filaments and the formulations that change what can be printed and how the part performs.
Print software teams
Slicing, toolpath and process control software, claimed as a technical process tied to the build.
Product makers and brands
Companies printing finished parts and products, from custom components to consumer goods, protected before launch.
[02]What's protectable
Four things worth protecting in 3D printing.
Additive manufacturing has more layers of protection than most fields. A patent can cover the machine, the process or the material, a design patent the shape of the printed product, and a trademark the name on all of it.
01Utility patent
The printer and how it builds
Print heads, build chambers, lasers and the mechanisms that make a printer faster, more accurate or able to print new materials. Claims are written around what your machine does better than what is on the market today.
- Print heads and extruders
- Powder bed and resin systems
- Build platforms and enclosures
- Post-processing equipment
Flat fee, quoted before work begins02Utility patent
Processes, materials and software
New ways to build, new powders and resins, and the software that plans each layer, claimed as process steps and compositions, so a competitor has to avoid both the method and the material.
- Build and toolpath methods
- Powders, resins and filaments
- Slicing and process control
- Printed lattices and structures
Flat fee, quoted before work begins03Design patent
The shape of the printed product
The ornamental design of a printed product, a part or the printer itself, protected for 15 years from grant. Once a file circulates, a shape is easy to copy, and the shape is what a design patent covers.
- Printed products and parts
- Printer housings
- Control screens and interfaces
USPTO denies it, full refund*04Trademark
The printer, material and brand name
Clear and file the name before it goes on the machine, the spool or the store, so the name customers reorder by is one you can keep.
- Printer and material names
- Company names
- Logos
Approved, or your money back*
Some things stay secret
Print parameters, powder recipes and machine settings no one can learn from the finished part may be worth more as trade secrets than as published patents. Your attorney tells you which on your first call.
[03]The flat-fee path
Search, provisional, utility. Flat fees at every step.
Every step is quoted before any work begins, and the search fee is credited when you file. Most 3D printing founders file a provisional before a design file is shared, a crowdfunding campaign or a trade show, then the full application within 12 months.
01Start here
Patentability search
$999
Patentable or your money back. Credited when you file
- An invention discovery call with your attorney
- A search of US and foreign patents and published applications
- A written patentability report and a review call
Report in about 5 days
Not patentable, full refund*02Then
Provisional patent
$2.5k–3.5k
- A strategy call to capture how the machine, process or material works
- Drafted by a registered patent attorney
- You review and approve it before filing
Patent pending the day it is filed
Patentability issues, full refund*03Within 12 months
Non-provisional patent
$7k–12k
Drawings and USPTO filing fees included
- Machine, process and material claims written for examination
- Formal drawings and USPTO filing fees
- Complex systems quoted flat on your call
Filed before your 12-month deadline
Flat fee, not covered by the guarantee
Alongside the patent
- Design patentFor the printed product or the printer, office actions included$3,200USPTO denies it, full refund*
- TrademarkFor the printer, material or brand name, USPTO fee for one class included$2,000Approved, or your money back*
*Refunds subject to the RLG Guarantee Policy in your engagement letter. Utility (non-provisional) patents are quoted flat and are not covered by the guarantee. How The RLG Guarantee works
[04]Files, sharing and infringement
Protect the object. Plan for the file.
In 3D printing, a product can travel as a file and be made anywhere. A patent decides who can make, use and sell the invention. How the file is shared decides when the invention becomes public and how easy it is to copy.
PatentWho can make and sell it
- $99901$999SearchWhat is already out there?
- File first02File firstProvisionalPatent pending, before the file is shared
- Month 1203Month 12Full applicationWithin 12 months
- USPTO04USPTOExaminationThe USPTO reviews the claims
- 05GrantedRights you can enforce
FileWhen others see it
- Keep it in-house01Keep it in-houseDesign and test printsCAD models and prototypes
- Use an NDA02Use an NDAPrint services and suppliersService bureaus and material partners
- Disclosure risk03Disclosure riskFile posted or soldMarketplaces, forums and repositories
- 04Product launchPrinted parts reach customers
- 05Copies appearPrinted from a shared or copied file
File before you share the file
Posting a design file, sending it to a print service without an NDA, a crowdfunding page or a trade show can make an invention public. The US gives you one year after your own disclosure, but most other countries do not. File at least a provisional first.
A file is not the product
Making a patented product infringes the patent, so printing a patented part does. Selling or sharing the file is harder to reach directly, which is why claims cover the printing method and the printed product, and anyone who actively encourages others to print it can be liable for inducing infringement.
Can you patent 3D printing innovationsCopyright covers art, not function
A sculptural design or the artwork in a model can carry copyright, but copyright does not protect the useful, functional features of an object. A utility patent protects how a part works, and a design patent protects its ornamental shape.
Copyright vs patent protectionPrinting a known product is not new
Making a known product by 3D printing is usually not enough for a patent on its own. What can be patented is what printing makes possible, such as a lattice, a part that could not be molded or a new material. A search shows where the line sits.
Using prior art to your advantage
General information, not legal advice. How a patent applies to design files and printed copies depends on the claims, the facts and where the printing happens.
[05]Related services
Services for 3D printing companies.
One firm for the patent, the brand and the agreements around them.
- Utility patentsProtect the machine, process or material
- Provisional patents, covered by The RLG GuaranteePatent pending before the file is shared
- Design patents, covered by The RLG GuaranteeProtect the shape of the printed product
- Trademarks, covered by The RLG GuaranteeRegister the printer, material and brand name
- Cease and desist lettersTell a seller of copied parts to stop
- IP licensing agreementsLicense a design or process in or out
- Non-disclosure agreementsShare files with print services on your terms
- Patent litigationEnforce or defend a 3D printing patent
[06]Questions
Before you file.
Still deciding? Your first call is free and comes with a straight answer on whether to file.
Book A Free Strategy CallCan you patent a 3D printed product?
Yes, if the product itself is new and not obvious. How it was made does not decide it. A known product made by printing is usually not patentable for that reason alone, while a new structure, such as a lattice or a part that could not be made another way, can be. A design patent can also protect a printed product's ornamental shape.
Can a 3D printing process or material be patented?
Yes. New build methods, toolpath and process control steps, powders, resins and filaments are patentable when they are new and not obvious. Process claims cover the steps and composition claims cover the material, so a competitor has to avoid both.
Is sharing or selling an STL file patent infringement?
It depends on the claims and the facts. Printing a patented product makes it, which infringes. Selling or sharing a file is not the same as making the product, but someone who actively encourages others to print a patented design can be liable for inducing infringement. Claims written around the printing method and the printed product make copies easier to act on.
Is a 3D model protected by copyright?
The artistic and sculptural parts of a model can be. Copyright does not cover the useful, functional features of an object, so a functional part needs a utility patent, and its ornamental shape a design patent. Many printed products are worth protecting in more than one way.
Can I patent a design I already posted online?
In the US, you have one year from your own public disclosure to file. Most other countries require filing before any disclosure, so posting a file first can give up foreign rights. File at least a provisional before the design goes up.
How much does a 3D printing patent cost with your firm?
Flat fees at every step. A $999 patentability search, a provisional application at $2,500 to $3,500 depending on the invention, and a non-provisional application at $7,000 to $12,000 with drawings and USPTO filing fees included. A design patent is $3,200. Every fee is quoted before work begins, and the search fee is credited toward your application.
What does The RLG Guarantee cover for 3D printing inventions?
The patentability search, the provisional application, design patents and trademarks. If the search finds your invention is not novel, you get a full refund or another search. If patentability issues come up on your provisional, a full refund or more searches. If the USPTO denies your design application, you get a full refund. If it refuses your trademark, you get a refund or a new mark. Non-provisional applications are not covered. Refunds are subject to the RLG Guarantee Policy in your engagement letter.
[07]Learning Center
Go deeper before you file.
Design Patent vs Utility Patent: Shield Your Product Design with the Right Legal Protection
One of the most common questions we encounter during our initial consultation is what type of patent application do I need? What are the differences between a design…
The Difference Between Copyright and Patent Protection and Why Most Choose Wrong
Most innovators make a critical mistake when protecting their creations: they assume copyright and patent protection are interchangeable, or worse, they pick the wrong…
Open Source Patent Protection: Can You Patent Something That You’re Open Sourcing?
Understanding open source patent law is crucial for companies developing AI technology today. Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly, fueled by open-source…
How to Patent a Process and Build an Unbreakable Business Moat
Imagine investing countless hours into developing a groundbreaking process, only to see competitors replicate it without any consequence. The potential loss can be…
Why Every Innovator Needs a Patent Non Disclosure Agreement Before Sharing Ideas
Important Clarification: There’s no such thing as a “patent non disclosure agreement” as a distinct legal document. What inventors need are standard non-disclosure…
[08]Client reviews
Founders who filed with us.
4.7 across 614 public reviews on Google, Trustpilot and Avvo.
#1Top reviewed IP law firm*
Read client reviews“I wanted to patent one of my jewelry designs and it was a very smooth process for me as all the details were taken care by the firm.”
Alex TorresDesign patent · Client review “Their writing allowed for protection of my invention's most important aspects, as well as giving me room to modify and adapt my product.”
Andrew WebberProvisional patent · Client review “Completed the patent search and utility patent within weeks.”
Michael F.Utility patent · Google
Reviews reflect individual client experiences. Quotes are excerpts. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. *#1 top reviewed means the most public client reviews on Google, Trustpilot and Avvo of any US patent or trademark firm.
Protect the design before you share the file.
Talk through your printer, process or product with a registered patent attorney. The call is free, with no obligation.