On October 2nd 2018, Bostonian 3D printer manufacturersDesktop MetalandMarkforgedsettled a legal case, and a subsequent countersuit, relating to claims of IP infringement, trade secret misappropriation and industrial espionage.
According to a joint press release from the companies involved, “Both Markforged and Desktop Metal acknowledge that neither company, nor the individuals named in the litigation, misappropriated any trade secret or confidential information belonging to the other.”
The full terms of the agreement remain confidential.
Desktop Metal v Markforged
该案首先在2018年3月引起了3D印刷行业的注意。桌面金属提起诉讼反对波士顿3D打印机制造商Markforged。在此诉讼中，桌面金属声称在标记中的技术Metal X printerinfringed on a patented method used for easy support removal inDesktop Metal Production and Studio Systems。Through this suit, Desktop Metal sought to delay the shipment of Markforged’s Metal X until matters were resolved.
In response Greg Mark, founder and CEO of Markforged, released a陈述否认这些指控并确认他的公司将对桌面金属提起反合。
在最近的更新中Markforged已被清除所有所谓的专利侵权索赔和桌面金属正在等待反审判。
现在，似乎所有的主张已经解决，双方都达成了共同的协议。
3D打印的许可
由于本案解决方案的性质是机密的，因此细节仍然对猜测开放。
一个可能的结果是两家公司之间的许可协议。如果是这种情况，那将不是3D印刷行业第一次发生这种情况。
Formlabs，制造商Fuse 1and the Form series of 3D printers, settled anSLA licensing agreement与南卡罗来纳州的3D Systems。Formlabs was later challenged byEnvisionTEC超过类似的问题。
In the case of 3D Systems vs Formlabs, it took approximately 2 years to reach a decision. While the fine details of Desktop Metal and Markforged have not been disclosed, it would be understandable if the parties involved wished to reach a swift conclusion to the matter – especially as the market forMIM粉末基金属添加剂系统继续加热。
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Featured image shows the Desktop Metal Studio System™ furnace sinters parts to temperatures near melting, producing metal parts with properties comparable to wrought metal. Photo via Desktop Metal
