ABSTRACT
AM is relatively new technology, and in instances where things are new, the law is not always up-to-date. Particular challenges that appear for AM and where the legal system is catching up are intellectual property protection and safety issues. There are many facets to intellectual property protection, such as new developments of AM processes that may infringe upon previous patents. Another major concern is that designs for products can easily be recreated. Of particular concern is the use of AM for making spare parts. This raises questions about liability in case something goes wrong when such parts are used in, for example, cars. Safety concerns also exist because sometimes unforeseen situations, such as a 3D printer catching on fire, happen because of the newness of the technology. A special case is the legal system catching up with 3D printing of weapons.
