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  • © 2016

3D Printing

Legal, Philosophical and Economic Dimensions

  • First international academic volume on the legal, philosophical, economic questions surrounding the rise of 3D printing
  • Collates a wide variety of academic discussions on 3D printing from different disciplines
  • Broadens and deepens the discussion on 3D printing beyond the merely technical discussion
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Information Technology and Law Series (ITLS, volume 26)

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-ix
  2. Introduction

    • Bibi van den Berg
    Pages 1-7
  3. Social, Political and Philosophical Implications of 3D Printing

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 85-85
    2. The Focal Practice of 3D Printing

      • Esther Keymolen
      Pages 99-116
  4. Economics, Innovation and 3D Printing

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 135-135
    2. Fraud and Froth: Free-Riding the 3D Printing Wave

      • Jonathan Coopersmith
      Pages 137-152
    3. A Taxonomy of Online 3D Printing Platforms

      • Thierry Rayna, Ludmila Striukova
      Pages 153-166
    4. How Will Society Adopt 3D Printing?

      • Peter Troxler, Caspar van Woensel
      Pages 183-212

About this book

The book in front of you is the first international academic volume on the legal, philosophical and economic aspects of the rise of 3D printing.

In recent years 3D printing has become a hot topic. Some claim that it will revolutionize production and mass consumption, enabling consumers to print anything from clothing, automobile parts and guns to various foods, medication and spare parts for their home appliances. This may significantly reduce our environmental footprint, but also offers potential for innovation and creativity.

At the same time 3D printing raises social, ethical, regulatory and legal questions. If individuals can print anything they want, how does this affect existing systems of intellectual property rights? What are the societal consequences of the various types of products one can print with a 3D printer, for example weapons? Should all aspects of 3D printing be regulated, and if so, how and to what ends? How will businesses (have to) change their way of working and their revenue model in light of the shift to printing-on-demand? How will the role of product designers change in a world where everyone has the potential to design their own products? These and other questions are addressed in high quality and in-depth contributions by academics and experts, bringing together a wide variety of academic discussions on 3D printing from different disciplines as well as presenting new views, broadening the 

discussion beyond the merely technical dimension of 3D printing.

Bibi van den Berg is Associate Professor at eLaw, the Center for Law and Digital Technologies at Leiden University, The Netherlands. Simone van der Hof is Full Professor at eLaw in Leiden and Eleni Kosta is Associate Professor at TILT, the Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology and Society at Tilburg University, The Netherlands.

Editors and Affiliations

  • eLaw (Center for Law & Digital Tech.,), Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Bibi van den Berg, Simone van der Hof

  • TILT, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    Eleni Kosta

Bibliographic Information

Societies and partnerships

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book USD 89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access