Two big updates from Bambu Lab – motion to dismiss Stratasys lawsuit & paid MakerWorld!
The Atomic Layers: S7E17 (00195)
Atomic Layer of the Day:
Oh, what a clickbait title!
That’s what you’ll say once you read through both news stories…
Let’s start with the lawsuit against Bambu Lab for patent infringement, which Stratasys filed in August last year. Until now, not much had happened in the case—except that Stratasys dropped its allegations against two other Chinese companies, Tiertime and Yinhua. Apparently, it decided they had no direct connection to Bambu Lab (which, in Tiertime’s case, was obvious to me from the start, but what do I know...).
Now it's February, and Bambu Lab has decided to take action. So far, these are standard procedural maneuvers aimed at delaying the case rather than resolving it. Bambu Lab is demanding that the lawsuit be dismissed—but only from a specific court and transferred to another one. Let me explain…
Bambu Lab has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Stratasys in the Eastern District of Texas. Stratasys sued Bambu Lab’s Chinese parent company but did not include its U.S. subsidiary, Bambu Lab USA, in the lawsuit.
Bambu Lab argues that Bambu Lab USA is responsible for selling, importing, and distributing 3D printers in the U.S., not the parent company.
According to Bambu Lab, the omission of Bambu Lab USA makes the case incomplete and violates Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 19, which requires all directly involved parties to be included in the lawsuit.
They claim that the Eastern District of Texas is not the appropriate venue for the case because Bambu Lab USA does not conduct business there. Instead, they suggest that the case should be heard in the Western District of Texas (Austin), where a parallel case is already underway, with Bambu Lab USA included as a defendant.
So, Bambu Lab isn’t disputing the patent case itself but is challenging the jurisdiction and the list of defendants.
This is a perfectly valid and justified move—but it's also a stalling tactic. It has nothing to do with the actual subject of the lawsuit.
Moving on…
On February 13—just before Valentine’s Day—Bambu Lab introduced a new feature on MakerWorld, its platform for free 3D printing models.
Well… not entirely free anymore.
Bambu Lab has launched a new feature called Commercial License Membership, an optional service that allows 3D model creators to offer commercial licenses for their designs. The platform remains free and open for users who want to download models for personal use, but now creators can monetize their designs by selling commercial licenses to those who want to use the models for profit (e.g., selling 3D-printed versions).
Creators can set up monthly subscriptions (ranging from $3 to $300), giving users the right to commercially use their models. To qualify, creators must meet specific requirements: at least 200 followers, 600 prints of their models, and no rule violations in the past 90 days.
The platform charges a 10% transaction fee, with payments processed through PayPal.
Models remain free for personal use—there are no paywalls or login requirements to download files. Commercial licenses are optional and apply only to those who want to sell 3D prints or use models for business purposes.
This is about supporting creators who want to earn from their work while keeping the platform open for the community. The goal is to help creators manage commercial licenses in one place rather than relying on external platforms like Patreon. For users, it's a convenient way to legally use models for business purposes with clear licensing terms.
So, nothing groundbreaking, right? The same thing was introduced on MyMiniFactory a long time ago.
Of course, this could just be the first step toward something bigger. Remember how it was with the firmware? Is it step forward to something similar…? Or maybe not…? Or…?
Anyway, if anything changes, don’t act all surprised like you did last month, okay?
Atomic Layer from the Past:
02-17-2016: Stratasys invested in Massivit and its gigantic 3D printers.
GET FREE HISTORY BOOK: ‘2012 in AM’
News & Gossip:
3D Systems co-founder Chuck Hull has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering for pioneering 3D printing. Hull invented Stereolithography (SLA) in 1983, co-founded 3D Systems in 1986, and received numerous honors, including the 2023 National Medal of Technology. His work revolutionized manufacturing and healthcare. (As you can see, 3D Systems decided to change the date of birth of stereolitography from 1984 - patent application, to 1983 - the invention; I don't question it - I notice it, because I find it interesting.)
Elegoo has unveiled the Centauri Carbon 3D printer, featuring a CoreXY system, 500 mm/s speed, and automation features. It supports carbon-fiber filaments with a 320°C hotend and enclosed chamber. Auto-calibration, real-time monitoring, and vibration control enhance performance. The printer is now available for pre-order at €329.99. You will see that these Chinese will finish each other off with those prices…
ICON, American additive construction firm, has raised $56M in Series C funding amid financial struggles. Despite securing over $500M to date, the company recently announced layoffs of 114 employees (25% of its workforce). Facing industry-wide challenges, ICON shifts focus to selling 3D printing hardware while continuing projects like military barracks and housing developments.