2013-08-02 20:50:21.449057+00 by Dan Lyke 4 comments
So we've long known that 2d printers encode identifying information in their output, how long until the same thing starts to happen with 3d printers? And will we know when it does?
[ related topics: Free Speech Graphics ]
comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):
#Comment Re: made: 2013-08-03 10:34:13.954963+00 by: meuon [edit history]
I'll offer the printers have identifiable traits that might be used to provide a match. I think the plastics would be easier to tag and track.
[sarcasm]Inspector Gadget reports that the source of the illegal unlicensed Mickey Mouse decoder rings were tracked to (Name Witheld). The SWAT team takedown of the operation yielded many samples of patent, copyright and design theft. The suspect, a programmer and engineer, was identified by a nine year old neighborhood girl and her mother who were concerned the free toy printed by their neighbor may not meet federal toy safety requirements. [/sarcasm]
#Comment Re: made: 2013-08-03 16:16:24.90056+00 by: Dan Lyke
Oh, I hadn't even thought about the dystopian implications of printer fingerprinting and copyright... This will be a thing.
In fact, I guess the reason it isn't already a thing is that the only 2d thing high value enough to warrant this is currency.
#Comment Re: made: 2013-08-04 16:10:38.562937+00 by: meuon
Maybe we need a few hundred thou to buy a bunch of 3d printers for "research", and offer a tracking/matching service to the lawyers... All of a sudden I need a bath, that was such a filthy thought.
#Comment Re: made: 2013-08-05 15:40:12.232167+00 by: Dan Lyke
MIT students release program to 3d print Schlage Primus high security keys. Used to be hard to get blanks for them, and then to get someone to mill them because the blanks had "Do Not Duplicate" stamped on them. Now you just reverse-engineer the pin pattern from a photo or impression of the key and either get it printed, or, if you've got a high enough resolution home printer, print it yourself.