In April 2015, the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) published three reports reflecting a legal and empirical study into the intellectual property (IP) implications of 3D printing. The project – commissioned by the UKIPO – was awarded to Bournemouth University and was led by Dr. Dinusha Mendis.

Together with Dr. Mendis, the research team consisted of Dr. Davide Secchi (Southern University, Denmark; previously Bournemouth University at the time of conducting the research) and Dr. Phil Reeves (Econolyst Ltd – now Stratasys Strategic Consulting Ltd).

All three reports can be found here and further information about the project, including research findings and recommendations for the UK Government, Industry and Intermediaries can be found here.

Since the publication of the reports, Dr. Dinusha Mendis, Co-Director of the Centre for Intellectual Property Policy and Management (CIPPM) has been invited to deliver a number of talks in UK and Abroad, thereby reflecting the impact of the research.

This blog-post, highlights the invited talks in EU. For the dissemination of research in UK, please see here.

34th ECTA Conference, Hamburg, Germany

On 12 June 2015, Dr. Mendis was invited to present the research at the European Communities Trade Mark Association 34th Annual Conference in Hamburg. The Conference took place from 10-13 June 2015 and Dr. Mendis spoke on the copyright implications of 3D printing based on the findings from the UKIPO project.

Dr. Mendis spoke on the topic as part of a Panel exploring the challenges to copyright law, which also included Professor Ian Hargreaves, Professor of Digital Economy, Cardiff University UK and author of the Hargreaves Review 2011.

For further information, please see here.

MAPPING Project, First General Assembly, Hannover, Germany

From 22-23 September 2015, the First General Assembly of the FP7-funded MAPPING Project was held in Hannover, Germany at the Hannover Congress Centrum.

MAPPING – Managing Alternatives for Privacy, Property and Internet Governance brought together stakeholders from three key areas including Internet Governance, Privacy and Intellectual Property.

Dr. Mendis was invited to speak in the Intellectual Property Panel titled ‘The EU IP Reform: Unlocking Culture, Stimulating Progress’. As part of the talk, Dr. Mendis was invited to speak on the UKIPO 3D Printing project.

Further information about the event can be found here.

OHIM Enforcement Conference, Alicante Spain

In November (18-20 November 2015) Dr. Mendis was invited by the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM) in Alicante Spain. The 3-day event organised by OHIM, Europol and Eurojust explored issues on tackling enforcement in relation to the infringement of copyright and design law.

The event was attended by policy makers, law makers, customs and border protection officials, investigators, criminal analysts and industry experts amongst others.

Dr. Mendis presented at this conference together with with Dr. Davide Secchi (co-author of Study 1 of the UKIPO Project) and member of the research team which carried out the Commissioned work for the UKIPO.

Dr. Mendis and Dr. Secchi presented the research carried out particularly for Study 1 of the UKIPO project, but also took the opportunity to speak on next steps and future projects – in taking forward the UKIPO Project.

In this regard, Dr. Mendis spoke briefly about the work being carried out for the newly funded project considering a legal and empirical case study on 3D printing, 3D scanning and mass customisation of ancient and modern jewellery.

For more information about the new project, please see here. For further information about OHIM’s event, please see here.

FORUM Institut Management GmbH, 3D Printing and IP, Munich, Germany 

On 1 December 2015, FORUM Institüt fur Management GmbH hosted an international conference exploring 3D Printing and IP Rights. The conference brochure including further details and speakers can be found here.

Dr. Mendis was invited to speak on the UKIPO Project with a particular focus on the implications for IP as a result of 3D online platforms as well as its impact on the industrial sector.

The presenters were drawn from industry, professional practice and academia thereby providing for a vibrant discussion.