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3D Printing and Housing: Intellectual Property and Construction Law

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Automating Cities

Part of the book series: Advances in 21st Century Human Settlements ((ACHS))

Abstract

This chapter explores the potential use of 3D printing technology for housing construction. While additive manufacturing technologies have been increasingly utilised across a range of industry, the use of 3D printing in construction is still in its infancy. Despite this early stage in development, the technological opportunities and impending disruption to the status quo are clear. The chapter begins with an examination of the types of 3D printing technologies deployed in the construction industry. It then proceeds to consider the interplay of intellectual property issues such as copyright, design law, patent law, trademark law and trade secrets around 3D printing in construction. The chapter then presents an analysis of the regulatory landscape around potential 3D printed housing projects. It focuses on the impact of the technology on legal frameworks touching on the construction process in Australia. A conclusion is presented at the end of this chapter pointing to further research areas in both intellectual property and building regulatory issues presented by the deployment of 3D printing in housing construction.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Casestry LLC v. Caseful LLC. (United States District Court for the Northern District of New York 2019).

  2. 2.

    Desktop Metal Inc. v Markforged, Inc. and Matiu Parangi (2018) Case Number 1:18-CV-10524; and Desktop Metal Inc. v Markforged, Inc. and Matiu Parangi (2018) 2018 WL 4007724 (D. Mass.) (jury verdict).

  3. 3.

    Magic Leap Inc. v Bradski et al. (2017) Case Number 5:16-cvb-02852.

  4. 4.

    Emerging Objects, http://www.emergingobjects.com/.

  5. 5.

    Australian Building Codes Board (2016) What is the National Construction Code (NCC)? https://www.abcb.gov.au/-/media/Files/Resources/Education-Training/whatistheNCC2016.pdf (accessed 27 May 2019).

  6. 6.

    Ibid.

  7. 7.

    De Schutter, 26.

  8. 8.

    Home Building Act (1989) (NSW) section 18B.

  9. 9.

    Building Products (Safety) Act (2017) (NSW).

References

Patent Applications

Trade Mark Registration

  • Contour Crafting Corporation. Contouring Crafting. USPTO. Serial Number 87447980. Filing Date: 12 May 2017. Published for Opposition: 1 May 2018

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Case Law

  • Casestry LLC v. Caseful LLC. (United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, 2019)

    Google Scholar 

  • Desktop Metal Inc. v Markforged, Inc. and Matiu Parangi (2018) Case Number 1:18-CV-10524

    Google Scholar 

  • Desktop Metal Inc. v Markforged, Inc. and Matiu Parangi (2018) 2018 WL 4007724 (D. Mass.) (jury verdict)

    Google Scholar 

  • Magic Leap Inc. v Bradski et al (2017) Case Number 5:16-cvb-02852

    Google Scholar 

Legislation

  • Building and Construction Legislation (Non-conforming Building Products—Chain of Responsibility and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2017 (Qld)

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  • Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Act 2010 (Cth)

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  • Home Building Act 1989 (NSW)

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  • Products (Safety) Act 2017 (NSW)

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Correspondence to Brydon T. Wang .

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© 2021 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

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Wang, B.T., Rimmer, M. (2021). 3D Printing and Housing: Intellectual Property and Construction Law. In: Wang, B.T., Wang, C.M. (eds) Automating Cities. Advances in 21st Century Human Settlements. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-8670-5_5

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