ABSTRACT
In August 2016, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded project 'A technological licensing framework for 3D printed (3DP) content: A focus in China' workshop was successfully organised at Ningbo Sofitel Hotel Conference Hall. The workshop gathered approximately thirty professionals from academia, industry practitioners, Ningbo Patent Bureau representatives and an intellectual property (IP) lawyer. The workshop consisted of three parts, namely the project introduction, a demonstration of the feasibility of watermarking technology in 3DP content and an industry panel discussion. Considering the supply chain of 3DP involves various stakeholders, such as those producing printers, materials, software, content providers—a licensing platform could theoretically neutralize each stakeholders' welfare while guaranteeing the development of the industry itself. The participants of the panel session sat in parallel, and discussed the current phenomenon of IP protection in China with regards to 3D printing. They express their opinions towards an online licensing platform proposed by the research team.
