New licensing with new Threeding!

How it all started

 

Ever since we launched our online platform back in 2013, we have always stayed true to the key element of our brand’s DNA: to develop and contribute to the world of 3D printing and the community in general. 

At the beginning of 2022, we updated our platform to improve the whole experience for our users, both creators of 3D models and potential customers. With our new update and the improved experience, we have also added a handful of perks that we believe will be quite useful for all 3D enthusiasts who are willing to explore the comprehensive list of possibilities of the 3D world. Are you a seller with lots of expertise and dozens of sold 3D models or have you just become one? Are you looking for a new object that you can add to the collection of 3D models or you are willing to purchase your first product? No matter what your level of experience, user type, and interests are, we are here to offer something for every 3D printer owner out there!

The issue of licensing 

 

From day 1, we had to face the issue of licensing the 3D models. Licensing is an essential part of the whole process and is an integral element of the services that we offer for both sellers and customers.

A carefully selected license aims to ensure that the buyers will be fairly rewarded for their work and allows them to determine the copyright for their 3D models. The buyers can choose from different types of personal and commercial licenses for their models and it is recommended for them to determine a different price for each type of license.

The customers, on the other hand, are given more benefits when it comes to the usage and application of the 3D models they purchase. Our main goal with the new licensing is to give a platform and provide a possibility for 3D printing to step out of our homes and to become more than just a hobby: 3D printing can and should be applicable in production, manufacturing, and business.

We aim to pursue this goal with our new update and we hope it will be helpful for our Threeding customers.

How does the new licensing work?

 

The new licensing types that we offer are divided into two main options: licenses for commercial use and licenses for non-commercial use (free licenses). 

The range of paid licenses provides various options that allow the customer to use and/or moderate the purchased 3D model. The commercial licenses define whether the users can enjoy the model for personal use only, or they can use it for commercial purposes; whether the purchased 3D model can be moderated; whether the final product or a product derived from it can be distributed, etc.

The free licenses are based on the license options from our Creative Commons friends (heart emoji). We implemented all non-commercial CC licensing types to create a safe and user-friendly environment for our Threeding community.

Types of licenses and practical examples

 

01 Personal Use License (Commercial)

The Personal Use License allows the customer to purchase the 3D model, print it, and enjoy the final product for personal use only. There is no limit regarding the number of prints, as long as they are not distributed for commercial purposes. 

The Personal Use License is an ideal choice if you are a beginner in the world of 3D printing; if you have a 3D printer at your home or the office and you want to fulfill your household or lifestyle needs. The license is suitable for people who consider 3D printing a hobby and entertainment.

02 Personal Editable Use License (Commercial)

The Personal Editable Use License allows the customer to purchase the 3D model, edit or modify it, print it, and use it for personal purposes. There is no limit regarding the number of prints for the original or edited model, as long as they are not distributed for commercial purposes.

The Personal Editable Use License is suitable for advanced 3D enthusiasts that are already familiar with printing and editing 3D models. This license is great for you if you find a part of a model that you are willing to use but need a slight modification to perfectly fit your needs.

03 Commercial Distributable Use License (Commercial)

The Commercial Distributable Use License allows the customer to purchase the 3D model, edit or modify it, print it, and use it for personal and commercial use, including distributing the 3D prints. There is no limit regarding the number of prints for the original or edited model.

The Commercial Distributable Use License is perfect for individuals or companies that are willing to sell the final product or a product derived from it. 

04 Attribution CC BY License (Free)

The Attribution CC BY License allows the users to distribute, remix, transform, and build upon the 3D print for any purpose, including commercial use. The product can be copied and redistributed in any medium or format.

05 Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA License (Free)

The Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA License allows the users to remix, transform, and build upon the 3D print for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as they credit the seller and license their new 3D model under the identical terms. The product can be copied and redistributed in any medium or format.

06 Attribution-NoDerivs CC BY-ND License (Free)

The Attribution-NoDerivs CC BY-ND License allows the users to reuse the 3D print for any purpose, including commercial use. It cannot be shared with others in adapted form and credit must be provided to the seller.

07 Attribution-NonCommercial CC BY-NC License (Free)

The Attribution-NonCommercial CC BY-NC License allows the users to remix, transform, and build upon the 3D print for any non-commercial purpose, as long as their new 3D model acknowledges the seller. The users don’t have to license their derivative models on the same terms.

08 Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA License (Free)

The Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA License allows the users to remix, transform, and build upon the 3D print for any non-commercial purpose, as long as they credit the seller and license their new 3D models under the identical terms.

09 Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs CC BY-NC-ND License (Free)

The Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs CC BY-NC-ND License allows the users to download the 3D model and share them with others, as long as they credit the seller. The product cannot be modified and used for commercial purposes. 

Our next steps

What we plan from now on is to constantly try to evolve and to discover new solutions and services for our users in order to make the Threeding experience even more fun, useful, and educational for everyone.
Our mission is to always improve, here is why we would love to hear from you! We are open to your proposals, input, and feedback -  feel free to contact us about anything related to the types of licenses, our platform, or 3D printing!