3DBenchy officially enters the Public Domain!
The Atomic Layers: S7E14 (00192)
Atomic Layer of the Day:
3DBenchy, the iconic 3D boat model used for testing 3D printers, recently became the subject of a copyright controversy. Designed in 2015 by Swedish designer Daniel Norée, the model quickly gained popularity as a tool for assessing 3D print quality.
Norée created it while working at Creative Tools (CT), a company specializing in 3D printers and software. 3DBenchy was released under a Creative Commons – NoDerivatives 4.0 license, meaning no derivative works were allowed.
In 2018, CT was sold, and in 2023, it was acquired by the Danish company NTI Group. Recently, unverified copyright claims related to 3DBenchy appeared on Printables, leading to the removal of some files and causing confusion within the 3D printing community.
After some media coverage, it turned out that NTI had not officially filed any claims. The issue remained unresolved… I wrote about it here:
Until now! NTI has now announced that 3DBenchy is entering the public domain!
In an official statement, NTI clarified that it never intended to profit from the model and that the copyright claims on Printables originated from an unidentified third party.
To preserve 3DBenchy’s iconic status within the 3D printing community, NTI, Daniel Norée (the model’s creator), and Paulo Kiefe jointly decided to release the model into the public domain. This ensures that 3DBenchy will remain freely available and remixable for everyone.
The official 3DBenchy website (www.3dbenchy.com) and social media accounts will be handed over to Norée and Kiefe, on the condition that the model remains publicly accessible.
On April 9, 2025, the 10th anniversary of 3DBenchy will be celebrated, along with a special surprise for the community. More details will be revealed soon!
Atomic Layer from the Past:
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News & Gossip:
I’m not sure if you’re aware, but there has been an ongoing legal dispute between the former owners of Origin and Stratasys for some time now. Yeah, you guessed it, it’s all about the money... 3DPrint.com reports that in December 2024, a new lawsuit was filed against Stratasys. The whole dispute stems disagreements over earn-out payments tied to revenue targets. Fortis Advisors LLC, representing former shareholders of Origin Laboratories, alleges Stratasys manipulated timelines and delayed product launches to reduce payments. The case includes personal claims against Stratasys CEO Yoav Zeif. While arbitration is set for July 2025, a U.S. District Court will decide if the fraud lawsuit proceeds separately.
Katie Weimer, former Vice President of Regenerative Medicine at 3D Systems, has launched GenesisTissue Inc., a bioprinting startup focused on personalized regenerative tissue implants. She left 3D Systems on October last year.
Chinese company EASYMFG announced launching two new metal BinderJetting 3D printers: the M200Eco, a cost-efficient printer for small businesses, and the M400Plus, an advanced system for high-performance production. With 90% of sales in China and 10% overseas, EASYMFG is also pursuing CE certification for global expansion.
PS: You accidentally got an extra email today about Kirby Downey and his AT-AT model. Sorry for that.