“We have all the time revered mental property”: Bambu Lab responds to 3D Printer patent lawsuit

Stratasys, Inc., the corporate that invented FDM 3D printing, fired pictures final week at rising star Bambu Lab for utilizing know-how that’s develop into commonplace in shopper 3D printing. At query is the corporate’s use of PEI-coated construct plates, purge towers, and automated mattress leveling.

Bambu Lab made the next assertion on X.com:

Now we have taken observe of the related data. As of now, we now have not acquired any formal paperwork from the court docket, however we’re carefully monitoring the scenario. We are going to actively reply to this case in accordance with the suitable authorized procedures to guard our authentic…August 10, 2024

“Now we have taken observe of the related data. As of now, we now have not acquired any formal paperwork from the court docket, however we’re carefully monitoring the scenario. We are going to actively reply to this case in accordance with the suitable authorized procedures to guard our authentic rights and pursuits.

Bambu Lab has all the time advocated for and upheld the ideas of respecting and defending mental property. By means of steady analysis and technological innovation, we attempt to offer our customers with the very best 3D printing expertise.

We additionally advocate our trade friends to drive the event of the sector by means of real technological innovation.”

Many within the 3D printing neighborhood have raised concern that if Bambu Lab cannot combat off Stratasys there might be nothing to cease them from going after different producers and driving them out of enterprise.

The Lawsuits

On August 8, 2024, Stratasys, Inc. filed two civil lawsuits within the U.S. District Courtroom for the Jap District of Texas in opposition to Bambu Lab for the alleged infringement of ten totally different U.S. patents concerning 3D printers. Stratasys was based in Eden Prairie, MN and nonetheless has its North American headquarters there. Bambu Lab, a Chinese language firm, maintains places of work in Austin, TX, which is within the Western Texas District Courtroom. The Jap District has a popularity for being pleasant to patent holders, with U.S. District Judge Alan Albright at one point hearing over 25% of the nation’s patent cases.

Lawsuits might be filed in any US District Courtroom, as long as the Plaintiff can show that the Defendant resides or does enterprise in that district. Stratasys attorneys have put forth that resulting from Bambu Lab’s web site, it does certainly do enterprise within the Jap District of Texas.

Oddly sufficient, the background portion of the go well with accuses Bambu Lab of not solely promoting, advertising and marketing and supporting six fashions of 3D printers in america possessing the “accused merchandise”, but additionally of being a safety risk. “Defendant’s printers…transmit knowledge to Defendants’ servers operated by third events below Defendants’ management. This consists of, however is just not restricted to, Defendants’ servers that could be positioned in China.”

Stratasys’s co-founder Scott Crump invented the know-how behind Fused Deposition Modeling, aka FDM 3D printing, whereas looking for a quicker option to prototype designs in 1988. His first try at 3D printing was really a handheld glue gun full of a mixture of plastic and wax, which he used to make his baby a toy frog. He knew he was onto one thing. So the thought was patented, Stratasys was based, and 3D printing stayed firmly within the realm of commercial manufacturing for the subsequent 20 years.

Over time, Stratasys’s wealth of patents saved different inventors from exploring 3D printing. As soon as the patents started to run out, others have been in a position to enter the 3D printing market and create inexpensive shopper grade machines.

It’s unclear why Stratasys has not defended their remaining patents, however a popular Reddit thread has a idea why they’re doing it now. Bambu Lab grew to become too in style with companies and producers. Many consider that Bambu Lab’s extra inexpensive printers have been adopted in nice numbers by companies and are taking a large market share from Stratasys. A Bambu Lab X1 Carbon could appear steep for a house workshop at $1449, however a used Stratasys F370 from 2021 will set you again $18,500.

Forbes recently reported that nearly a million desktop 3D printers priced below $2500 shipped over the past quarter of 2023. These printers, just like the X1 Carbon, are taking the place of dearer machines companies use for prototyping and making small batches of alternative components.

Whether or not Stratasys is out to eradicate the competitors or merely needs a share of the income is unclear. Nevertheless, the precedent for an upstart 3D printing firm paying royalties to a extra established participant has been set. In 2014, Formlabs agreed to pay 3D Systems an 8% royalty on all machines offered.

There are ten patents named within the lawsuit. Some have been initially filed by corporations that Stratasys has acquired. Right here’s an inventory so as of once they expire:

US7555357B2, expires 3/3/27, by Stratasys: Methodology for constructing 3D objects with extrusion-based layered deposition techniques.
US10569466B2, expires 10/28/28, filed by MakerBot: Tagged construct materials for 3D printing.
US8562324B2 expires 8/18/30, filed by MakerBot: Networked 3D printing.
US8747097B2 expires 8/18/30, filed by MakerBot: Networked 3D printer with 3D Scanner.
US11167464B2, expires 10/28/33, filed by MakerBot: Tagged construct materials for 3D printing.
US9168698B2, expires 2/7/34, filed by MakerBot: 3D printer with drive detection.
US9421713B2, expires 8/20/34, by Stratasys Inc: Methodology for printing 3D components with purge towers.
US11886774B2 expires 12/31/34, filed by Stratasys: Detection and use of printer configuration data.
US9592660B2, expires 1/8/35, by filed by Arevo Inc, Heated construct platform and system for 3D printing strategies.
US10556381B2, expires 7/27/36, filed by MakerBot: 3D printer with drive detection.