[Annotated] How are companies dealing with 3D printing ?

As keen fans^[각주:1] make and distribute models of protected intellectual property^[각주:2], copyright-owners are mulling their response 

Three-dimensional (3D) printers have proliferated^[각주:3] in homes, schools and workplaces over the past five years. Last year more than 420,000 desktop-sized 3D printers, which make things by depositing one thin layer of material over another^[각주:4], much as printers ink a page one line^[각주:5] at a time^[각주:6], were sold. Combined with the increased availability of^[각주:7] 3D scanners and free 3D-modelling^[각주:8] software, this has led to a proliferation of^[각주:9] 3D-printed models available online. They are found on sites such as Shapeways, where customers can order tools and toys "printed" from models, or Thingiverse, where people with 3D printers share models among themselves. Some designs, such as Pokemon chess sets or mini-Millennium Falcons, are based on intellectual property (IP) that belongs to companies - in this case Nintendo and Disney - known for guarding their copyrights jealously^[각주:10]. How are companies dealing with the latest threat to their IP?

Many firms have learned from past mistakes, when they prosecuted^[각주:11] fans for downloading music or movies and were painted as cold-hearted^[각주:12] corporate predators. It helps that the 3D-printing community is still relatively^[각주:13] small, since it requires expertise to^[각주:14] create 3D models. The people who have these skills are also often keen fans of the games, movies and television shows from which popular IP originates^[각주:15]. And since consumer printers tend to use plastic as their raw material^[각주:16], precluding^[각주:17] anything involving electrical components^[각주:18] or circuits^[각주:19], they must keep things simple. Items from popular culture are an obvious choice. One maker, Gregor Lutolf, says he was inspired to create a printable version of^[각주:20] a Disney castle by the cartoons he watched with his young daughter. Another modeller^[각주:21], Agustin Flowalistik, decided to mark the 20th anniversary of the Pokemon franchise by making nine related geometric models^[각주:22]. These have been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times.

Instead of ignoring or acting against^[각주:23] these creators, some brands are working with them. Syfy, an American television channel, has released models of spaceships and props from^[각주:24] its shows for people to 3D-print. That helps the channel build goodwill^[각주:25] and earns it free marketing. Hasbro, a toy company, worked with Shapeways to allow modellers to create and sell 3D-printed items based on the My Little Pony franchise, earning royalties from^[각주:26] the sales. On the other hand, Disney has taken a more cautious approach^[각주:27], offering its own 3D-printed designs for sale. The media giant^[각주:28] also recently started adding reflective material to^[각주:29] its plastic products to make it harder to 3D-scan them. 

A small industry is emerging to help media companies navigate the world of 3D printing. New companies are bringing brands and makers together. MyMiniFactory, based in London, helps companies engage with^[각주:30] their 3D-printing fans by creating and hosting design contests. It has enabled companies such as Capcom, Playstation and WildBrain to interact with^[각주:31] fans who can then design models without having to worry about copyright issues. Though revenues from 3D printing will remain tiny for the foreseeable future^[각주:32], companies that have embraced a more open approach^[각주:33] might be richly^[각주:34] rewarded with the loyalty of^[각주:35] their fans.

1. keen ; 2. EAGER/ENTHUSIASTIC | [주로 명사 앞에 씀] (활동・사상 등에) 열정적인[열렬한] [본문으로]
2. intellectual property ; [U] (법률) 지적 재산 [본문으로]
3. proliferate ; [자동사][V] 급증하다, (빠르게) 확산되다 [본문으로]
4. deposit ; [vn] 1. PUT DOWN | [자,타동사][+ adv. / prep.] (특정한 곳에) 두다[놓다] [본문으로]
5. ink ; 1. (인쇄를 위해) 잉크를 바르다 [본문으로]
6. at a time ; 따로따로; 한 번에 [본문으로]
7. availability ; 1. [U] 유효성, 유용성, 효용; (입수) 가능성 [본문으로]
8. modelling ; 2. 모형 제작 [본문으로]
9. proliferation ; [U , sing.] 급증, 확산 [본문으로]
10. jealously ; [부사] 질투하여; 빈틈없이 [본문으로]
11. prosecute ; 1. ~ (sb) (for sth/doing sth) 기소[고발/소추]하다 [본문으로]
12. cold-hearted ; [형용사] 냉담한, 인정 없는 ;; 참고 ; warm-hearted [본문으로]
13. relatively ; [부사] 비교적 [본문으로]
14. expertise ; [U] ~ (in sth/in doing sth) 전문 지식[기술] ;; US [|ekspɜ:r|ti:z] UK [|ekspɜ:|ti:z] [본문으로]
15. originate ; (격식) 1. [자동사][V + adv. / prep.] 비롯되다, 유래하다 [본문으로]
16. raw material ; [C , U] 원자재, 원료, 소재 [본문으로]
17. preclude ; [동사] ~ sth | ~ sb from doing sth (격식) (~로 하여금 ~하지) 못하게 하다, (~가 ~하는 것을) 불가능하게 하다 [본문으로]
18. electrical component ; 전기 부품 [본문으로]
19. electrical circuit ; 전기 회로 [본문으로]
20. printable ; [형용사] (보통 부정어와 함께 쓰임) 인쇄[출판]할 만한, (사람들이 읽을 수 있도록) 글로 옮길 만한 [본문으로]
21. modeller ; 1. 모형 제작자 ;; (美 mod・el・er) [본문으로]
22. geometric ; [형용사] (또한 드물게 geo・met・ric・al / -ɪkl /) 기하학의; 기하학적인 [본문으로]
23. act against ; …에 반(反)하다; …에 불리한 일을 하다 [본문으로]
24. prop ; 3. [주로 복수로] (연극・영화에 쓰이는) 소품 [본문으로]
25. build goodwill ; 단골을 만들다, 신용을 쌓다 [본문으로]
26. royalty ; 2. [C] [주로 복수로] (책의) 인세, (음악 작품 등의) 저작권 사용료[수익금] [본문으로]
27. cautious approach ; 신중한 접근 [본문으로]
28. giant ; 3. 거대 조직[기업] [본문으로]
29. reflective ; 3. ~ of sth …을 반영하는, … 의 속성을 보여주는 [본문으로]
30. engage with ; 협력하다, 소통하다 [본문으로]
31. interact with ; 서로 교감하다, 상호작용하다 [본문으로]
32. foreseeable ; [형용사] 예측[예견]할 수 있는 [본문으로]
33. embrace ; 2. [타동사][VN] (격식) (생각・제의 등을 열렬히) 받아들이다[수용하다] [본문으로]
34. richly ; 3. 후하게, 풍부하게 [본문으로]
35. loyalty ; (pl. -ies) 1. [U] ~ (to/towards sb/sth) 충실, 충성 [본문으로]