The third industrial revolution: 3D printing & Australian design laws

Three-dimensional (3D) printing and scanning is claimed to be the next disruptive technology. It has the potential to usher in the third industrial revolution. Merging the physical and digital, 3D printing and scanning could have profound effects on how we design, share, copy and manufacture goods. Consequently, there are considerable intellectual property implications for registered design right owners. This thesis examines the technological background to 3D printing and scanning before evaluating the viability of these technologies as a mass consumer product. It then assesses the effectiveness of the Australian registered design right to combat infringement and argues that the Designs Act 2003 is presently unable to deal with this nascent technology. This thesis then moves to initiate a discussion on the future of the design right in the event of a 3D printing revolution.