EU Parliament Justice Committee Ponders Regulation Of Copyright And Liability In 3D Printing

By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch

Should the European Parliament consider regulation on 3D printing with regard to intellectual property protection and civil liability? Members of the Justice Committee (JURI) today at their session in Brussels were divided with representatives from the Green Party group as well as the conservatives and liberals cautioning against erecting barriers to the technology.

The rapporteur of the own-initiative report of the committee, Joelle Bergeron, a member of the populist party group “Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy,” listed problems like the potential decline of value of a piece of art once it can be re-produced by anybody, as well as the question of liability for damage from 3D printed spare parts. Several members of the committee also pointed to the potential creation of 3D weapons.

Bergeron said that in order to avoid duplication, possible extensions of existing legislation like the Copyright Directive should be considered. But both conservative, liberal and Green party members were hesitant to support legislative action right now, underlining the innovative potential of the technology.

The working document is here.