NAJI to Present 3D Printing’s Impact on IP Production and Protection

3D printing creates many wonderful opportunities for manufacturers, but it holds dangers as well.On Wednesday, September 30, the National Alliance for Jobs and Innovation (NAJI) will be holding a special discussion about 3D printing and its impact on IP production and protection in the manufacturing industry.

The Issue

While 3D printing, otherwise known as “additive manufacturing,” has been around for many years. However, recent advances in the field of additive manufacturing have greatly increased the utility of 3D printers and lowered their price point to a level where lower-end model are now affordable to private citizens.

The impact of 3D printing on the manufacturing industry has already proven to be significant, helping to reduce prototyping and tooling costs for some manufacturers.

However, there is a risk that additive manufacturing may affect the ability of companies to create and protect their intellectual properties.

Why?

Well, with a 3D printer, it’s possible for anyone to replicate a part, even a highly complicated one. All that’s required is a printer capable of printing in the right material and a design file of the part, which can be replicated easily if someone can get their hands on a sample of the original part.

This is part of the reason why NAJI is hosting a discussion to address the potential IP and copyright infringement impacts of unauthorized production using 3D printing technology.

Where and When is the Discussion Taking Place?

The event will be hosted at the Microsoft Tech Lab on 901 K St., NW, Washington D.C. on the 11th floor. On a side note, photo ID will be required to enter the building.

The discussion is scheduled to begin at 10:30 A.M., and continue until 11:30 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time.

Who is Attending?

There will be representatives from many NAJI-affiliated companies in attendance at the meeting.

The panelists for this discussion will be:

  • Justin Pierce- A partner at Venable LLP
  • Aaron Cooper- Counsel for Covington & Burling LLP
  • Mark Charles- Senior Counsel for Procter & Gamble

These legal experts will be offering their insights into the legal ramifications of the use of 3D printing for manufacturing.

There will also be two special guests in attendance for this event:

  • Michelle Lee- The Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • Chandra Brown- Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing, International Trade Administration

These officials will also be offering insight into the potential impact of additive manufacturing techniques on how businesses will be able to establish and protect their IP from infringement.

Rob McKenna, the president of NAJI and a Partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP will be moderating the discussion panelists.

Why You Should Attend

The potential impact of 3D printing technologies on IP development and protection are enormous. It is important to know as much as possible about this impact sooner rather than later.

At the NAJI-hosted event, you will have the chance to hear legal experts and regulatory officials discuss the impact of this technology and gain valuable insight. This alone makes it worth your time to attend the hour-long morning discussion this September 30.

Aside from discussing the risks of 3D printing to the protection of your company’s IP, the speakers will also discuss the potential rewards/benefits that companies may be able to reap from the introduction of additive manufacturing.

To attend the event in person, please RSVP Kara Horton via email at khorton@naji.org. Alternatively, you can join by phone if you register online at: http://www.mfgday.com/events/2015/national-alliance-for-jobs-and-innovation

We look forward to seeing you there!

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