The 3D printing world is unusually generous. Thousands of designers share their models online, often for free, on sites like Printables, MakerWorld and Thingiverse. A good wall mount or organiser can take days of measuring, drawing and test prints before it fits just right.
Sadly, some people print those designs and sell them as their own, without asking and without paying the designer a single krona. It is unfair to the designer, and in the long run it makes people stop sharing.
Where we stand
- We don't sell other people's designs. Everything in our shop is designed by us.
- Printing for yourself is different. When you upload a file, we print it for you, for your own use. That is how most shared models are meant to be used.
- We ask when something looks wrong. If an order looks like someone else's design being printed for resale against its licence, we get in touch before we print.
Read the licence
Most shared models have a licence on their page. Many use Creative Commons, which is built from a few short codes:
| Code | Means |
|---|---|
| BY | Give the designer credit. |
| NC | Non-commercial: you may not sell it or use it to make money. |
| ND | No derivatives: don't share changed versions. |
| SA | Share alike: if you share a changed version, use the same licence. |
So a model marked CC BY-NC may be printed for yourself, as long as you credit the designer, but not sold. Some sites have licences of their own, and some designers sell a commercial licence for a small fee. When in doubt, ask the designer. Most are happy to be asked.
Five easy ways to support designers
- Credit them by name and link to the original when you share a photo of your print.
- Post your print on the model's page. Designers love seeing their work out in the world.
- Leave a like, a rating or a comment.
- Tip them, or buy their paid models.
- Ask before you sell anything made from their design.
This is our own view, not legal advice. The licence on each model's page is what counts.