Form Fans,
As you may already know, 3D Systems announced a patent infringement lawsuit against Formlabs on November 20th. Today, we ask for your confidence and patience once again, especially from those of you who backed us on Kickstarter or have placed a pre-order through our website. We will provide details as soon as we can, but, for now, we are unable to comment publicly on the specifics of the case. That said, please know that our number one priority was and still is to fulfill our promise to our awesome supporters.
Our team has been amazed and inspired by the outpouring of support from our loyal backers, peers, friends, and others out there who believe in our company and the vision behind the Form 1. You continue to make our team feel many thousands strong.
Form onward!
-The Formlabs Team
Comments
The current climate of barratry is frankly disgusting; I hate to say I’m not surprised. You appear to have a VERY good product, it has to be scaring people. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that all this does is give you publicity.
Sad to listen this. How I can`t explain well in english I will explain in Spainsh. Si, porque el mundo es global. Porque luego nos quejamos que los asiaticos nos copien. Habeis demostrado que teneis un producto que NECESITAMOS a un precio que podemos pagar. 3D systems : ¿podrás pagar y defender tu patente en cada pais del mundo?
Since 3D Systems is not offering a comparable or similar product, it is obvious that they are just playing the role of patent troll. Those of us who are engineers at companies that are (or could be) their customers need to remember this in discussions with our colleagues. 3D Systems last concern is innovation and technology.
IP law is a tricky thing. If they THINK that a competitive product is infringing on their IP, they must sue.
What an awesome work you guys have done. My respect and admiration. Don’y let anybody scare you. It’s funny the little wonder mouse is scaring the hell out of the big cats. You guys have a place in this world and you deserve it. In The mean time cool you heads and see how a castable resing for jewelry could be in the horizon for the near future. Goood Job & good luck
I fully support you guys. 3d printers should be affordable for individuals to own. The world would be a better place, more innovation, more jobs would be created here in the USA. I hope the judge can understand that.
It is well past time for the cost curve on stereo lithography type 3D printers to bend into the hobbyist/ small professional price range. go Formlabs!
Ha! Today, I just found out that one of my old neighbors grandfathers worked for NASA, he actually invented the technology that 3D Systems has been using. That was way back in primary school. Sorry, about the impending court case. Maybe, the issue can be easily resolved in front of a judge without expensive litigation? I wish you success.
Kind of funny, I was about to buy a Cubify printer to use while I wait for my Form1 printer to be delivered in 2013. They just lost a real actual customer. I don’t mind spending more money with another company now. I know I’m not the only customer they have just lost business with.
Won’t go near 3D Systems.
My company has an internal design department and we’ve been through a few different “low-end” 3D printers in recent years – we were really looking forward to the Form 1 and still are.
3D Systems is such an “old school” company and tied to a business model that is completely inaccessible to smaller companies without six-figure budgets.
Formlabs, hopefully, is going to change that.
Keep it up and make it happen!
I stand behind Formlabs 100% law suit or not. This is one of the best things to happen in a while and I for one and not going to miss it! Go hard boys!!!
hey, it’s easier to file a lawsuit than develop a relevant product that consumers want and can afford.
seems very abusive that they are also suing Kickstarter – if FL offered this product on Amazon.com – would they sue Amazon?
The Patent “Business” is very complicated. Prior art, claims and patents of addition where small changes in the technology gives a whole new patent life. It does not take complete changes but something as small as a mechanical change can create a hostile climate for those who think they have invented a new mouse trap. This is a game for lawyers and money. Keep your chin up. The judges in these cases have a tendency to favor the small guy.
I was annoyed when I heard of this. It reminds me of Honeywell’s attempt to buyout/push Nest out of the market.
It strikes me as patent trolling and yet another case where the patent is so broad that it really shouldn’t have been given out in the first place.
I hope you are able to win without eating into much of the profit you deserve from such an excellently executed product development.
Have you considered drawing from the expertise that may be found in your current backers? I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a backer who wouldn’t mind helping you guys out. Maybe willing to take some resin as thanks.
Best of luck.
I would say…. 3D Systems…lots of Money…You Guys…None= 3D Wins
The same situation happened to Henry Ford, when he started to build cars.
History will look back to this situation the same as we do to Ford beginnings…
Would be so nice to see an info update about this dispute with 3D Systems..
I wish you good luck, guys!
A wise move might be to reach a settlement offering them stock in your company in exchange for perpetual software and process licensing. They stand to make more money in the long run, and co-opting your opponent only makes you stronger and able to handle expansion/fluctuation/development better. I offer Google Vs. Yahoo as an example.
The reality is at 3D Systems started this whole revolution to begin with, so to despise them for protecting their IP is pretty crappy. It’s just business….and protecting IP is part of it. Now that people are learning of 3d printing, everyone is hopping on the bandwagon, but 3DS has been moving this forward for nearly 30 years. Show some respect. I really like the idea of a low cost small SLA system, although most people would be turned off by the finishing process if they knew what it entailed. Keep up the good work and hopefully 3D won’t just bury you under a pile of litigation and crush you.
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What is the status of the lawsuit? Should we still pre-order?
Just want to add another twist. I too have a patent being infringed on. Since these infringers have been knocking off my products, with cheap substitutes we have lost 75% of our market share. On the other hand, if Formlabs reaches a Licensing of technology deal with 3ds, all will be well and lawyers will not be the only ones to make money. Don’t be stubborn Fl. We need your machine in the marketplace!!
I heard about this lawsuit and I decided to order a machine in spite of it. I thought if they saw you as a threat, you must have a nice machine.
Please, I hope you just hand this to some great lawyers and go about your business. Things will be fine in due time.