Legal question about sharing a 3d model not for earning money
Hello,
I have an XR18 (bought second hand) but it didn't have the rack ears to mount it in a 19 inch rack. So I went on the internet to see if someone else made rack ears. I found a nice design that I liked but the person who made it is selling it on etsy.com.
I got out my digital calipers and booted up Fusion 360, designed my own rack ears that look almost identical to the ones on etsy. I would to share my design on thingiverse, with a non commerial licence so that other people can also just print it out. I do not want to any money off of it.
Is this illegal? On the one hand you could say that I copied his design. On the other hand I had to completely design it myself.
RE: Legal question about sharing a 3d model not for earning money
If you hadn't seen anything on Etsy and just designed it yourself, would you be worrying?
Is the etsy design special?
you obviously had an idea that you needed rack mounting tabs before you looked on etsy.
if they are right angle brackets with holes into attach to the XR18 and the rack, I expect it would be difficult to copyright them, especially as I am pretty sure your creations are not exact copies of the etsy ones.
I am no lawyer but I think it would be difficult to prosecute!
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK
RE: Legal question about sharing a 3d model not for earning money
If we're talking about a small piece with a 90 degree bend and a few holes, there's nothing innovative about it. Rack mounts are standardized specifically to make it easy to design and use them. The Etsy seller is likely making whatever money they are making by selling printed parts to people without printers, so there's not really anything to feel guilty about. If it were some sort of innovative design that you just copied, there might be an issue, but rack mounts aren't that.
and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
RE: Legal question about sharing a 3d model not for earning money
Unless there's a patent on the design you're good.
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- until all hell broke loose with the forum software...
RE: Legal question about sharing a 3d model not for earning money
for the avoidance of doubt insert a hole in your model so that it is different from the one you took inspiration from and that, obviously, does not affect its functionality; no one will get it to say that you copied it
1+1=10 - take a look at my disgusting and useless models
RE: Legal question about sharing a 3d model not for earning money
Burn this email - immediately
i3 Mk3 [aug 2018] upgrade>>> i3MK3/S+[Dec 2023]
RE: Legal question about sharing a 3d model not for earning money
I doubt that a third party (the Etsy seller) would have been able to obtain a patent for an item like this anyway. The item appears to be a fairly generic item, others already exist, it relates to another manufacturer's product, etc. Also, I assume that you would have mentioned if the Etsy item had mentioned a patent number or patent pending.
My view is that you should be fine in this case.
RE: Legal question about sharing a 3d model not for earning money
Hello to all and thanks all for your suggestions. I want to ask the same question by making a new post but I already found my answer here. Thanks all. 🙂
RE: Legal question about sharing a 3d model not for earning money
I doubt that a third party would have been able to obtain a patent for an item like this anyway.
Hello to all and thanks all for your suggestions. I want to ask the same question by making a new post but I already found my answer here. Thanks all. 🙂