Whether 3D Object is Copyright Protected? Controlled Object Identification in Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing has opened the possibility of printing a 3D object by just having a blueprint and a 3D printer. This advent in technology has brought a cybersecurity challenge. This brings up a challenge to detect objects, henceforth called controlled objects (COs) that potentially infringe upon laws, authorship rights, and other legal constraints. It is desirable to detect the COs before starting the 3D printing process to prevent legal consequences. We propose a method for identification of COs in 3D print job based on application of 3D object descriptors/fingerprints. These descriptors reflect different properties of a 3D object design and identify whether the object is controlled or not. We consider only technical objects when the blueprint cannot change a lot. We propose a set of descriptors to efficiently store the information about the blueprint, and to make an effective search in the database of COs represented by their descriptors.

I. Introduction

The advent of additive manufacturing allows to print 3D objects just owing a blueprint and a 3D printer. As a result, 3D printing could give a rise to mass production of counterfeit products at reduced pricing [1]. The problem is not limited only to counterfeit items, but there is also a necessity to detect printing of objects (hereafter called controlled objects, COs) that potentially infringe upon laws, authorship rights, legal or other constraints. This cybersecurity challenge is yet to be addressed by industry. Legislative bodies are enacting new laws [2, 3], and are trying to better regulate the 3D printing of controlled items.