Emerging Issues
People can use a 3D printer to create an amazing array of things. But what are the legal implications? Who owns the copyright to the creation? Who is liable if the item is harmful? Should there be restrictions on what a person can create? Who decides what the restrictions are and to whom they apply? The discussion surrounding these important questions is ongoing.
These questions have been particularly important in the discussion around the printing of firearms and ‘ghost guns’. Ghost guns are firearms that are assembled or 3D printed and do not have a serial number, making them difficult to trace. With plans, software, materials, and 3D printers easily accessible, there has been a surge in unregistered firearms being created and used. More than ten states and the District of Columbia have passed laws regulating the purchase or use of ghost guns. Many places require these weapons to be registered and imprinted with a personalized serial number.
With any new technology comes the need to examine these important questions. As 3D printing becomes easier, quicker, and more accessible the ethical, moral, and legal implications will continue to be debated.