Monday, June 27, 2011

Cease and Desist

     So, I like to make things, and I made a cube similar to the one seen in Paramount Pictures's Super 8. This got me into trouble.
A rendering produced by Shapeways from the CAD file I designed.


     I designed the 3D cad file, uploaded it to Shapeways, ordered one, and promptly (18 hours later) got a Cease and Desist email letter from Paramount's lawyers telling me to take down the file.  I didn't want to fight in court, so I complied and am not selling, and have not sold, nor will I in the future be selling any Super 8 replicas.  I took down the CAD file so no one can order it.  It's purely just a fan creation and only one exists, which I ordered for myself before receiving the C&D letter.  There is a  company called Quantum Mechanix (QMx) which will be selling licensed replicas soon, and if you're a fan you should order one from them.

Below is a video of a vibrating box made from my CAD file, which is not for sale.



Again, this is not for sale, please don't ask.
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13 comments:

  1. How dare you make a shape! The nerve!

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  2. At least they are actually making it though. About 98% of the things studios C&D are things they will never make/license.

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  3. Ridiculou$.... After all, you personally designed this object... and thus it´s your design and not a pure forgery. This wouldn´t have happened if it were 3D printed in China. :-)

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  4. I wrote about your design in my blog
    http://algunacosaesmoualmon.wordpress.com/2011/06/28/he-tingut-un-deja-vu-impressio-3d-revolucio-i-canvis/

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  5. well it looks like everyone will be needing a 3D Patent for their new inventions soon. I can see lots of lawyers turning to 3D Printing soon and making big bucks off of 3D Patents.

    Any 3D Patent Lawyers available?.

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  6. No. Patent lawyers are all 2D.

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  7. Hey! Some of us are 3D! But I don't think this is a design patent, I think they are implying that they have copyright protection - creative, artistic, non-functional, aesthetic, and affixed in film... so no 3d printing of the cube for 90 years? or is it 135 now? It's only a "limited time" :)

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  9. Sod the studios, their behaviour is pathetic.

    This could just as easily be a salt crystal. Do they want to go looking at all the salt crystals in the world to find this exact shape and then send Mother Nature a C&D?

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  10. Dude your famous now!!! I read about you on Ars Technica.

    Good job man!

    http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/06/paramount-no-3d-printing-of-our-alien-super-8-cubes.ars

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  11. gosh, it's been 7 months and they still haven't started making these yet. I wonder what's going on. Paramount should've licensed it to me... They'da been in fan's hands 6+ months ago.

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  12. Could you post a copy of the letter?

    Christian J. Martinez
    www.3dprinterlaw.com

    (fledgling blog)

    ReplyDelete

  13. David K. Caplan

    Keats McFarland & Wilson LLP

    9720 Wilshire Blvd., Penthouse Suite

    Beverly Hills, CA 90212

    U.S.A.

    Tel: (310) 777-3740

    Fax: (310) 860-0363



    June 10, 2011



    VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL



    Todd Blatt



    tblatt@gmail.com



    Re: Unauthorized Use of Paramount Pictures Corporation Properties


    Dear Mr. Blatt:



    This letter is being written to you on behalf of Paramount Pictures Corporation (“Paramount”). Paramount is the owner of copyrights, and other intellectual property rights, in and to the Super 8 motion picture (hereinafter “Super 8”). No one is authorized to copy, reproduce, distribute, or otherwise use Super 8 without the express written permission of Paramount.



    Paramount has learned that you are selling, distributing, and/or reproducing unauthorized Super 8 replicas on the websites located at http://www.shapeways.com andhttp://www.therpf.com.



    We hereby demand that you and all those who have acted in concert with youimmediately cease all unauthorized sales, transmission, distribution, display, and/or other utilization of Super 8.



    We further demand that you provide us with sales information regarding the unauthorized replicas, including a detailed identification of all services and websites through which you distributed the replicas; and that you immediately provide us with written confirmation that you have complied with Paramount’s demands.



    This letter is not a complete statement of Paramount’s rights in connection with this matter, and nothing contained herein constitutes an express or implied waiver of any rights, remedies, or defenses of Paramount in connection with this matter, all of which are expressly reserved.







    Very Truly Yours,

    /s/

    David K. Caplan

    Keats, McFarland & Wilson, LLP

    ReplyDelete

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