Additive Manufacturing, colloquially also referred to as 3D Printing or „3DP“, has reached an industrial scale and is the go-to manufacturing method for legacy spare parts or many things that could not be made with traditional production processes.
If you are thinking about using additive manufacturing you should make sure that you have all IP rights in 3D models and technical drawings so that you are not exposing yourself to legal risks that can cost you dearly. If you are outsourcing your 3D Printing jobs to a service provider, you will also want to ensure that the parts you get will be as good as your own by concluding 3DP specific contract manufacturing and quality assurance agreements.
The new EU Directive on Product Liability provides for a strict, no-fault liability for personal injury and damage to property caused by defective digital manufacturing files and software. If you are providing 3D Printing services or if you are 3D Printing your own parts or if you are outsourcing your 3DP jobs to service providers, you are exposed to potential product liability. While this strict liability cannot be excluded, there are legal ways to establish an adequate distribution of product liability risks in the digital supply chain.
