Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Ownerchip (Digital Rights Management Infrastructure For 3D Printed Artifacts)

Teaser

3D printing is of great interest to mega-brands. It frees product/character designers from the constraints of traditional manufacturing, addresses supply chain issues with volume/location flexibility, and offers ability for customer-driven brand augmentation and customization...

Summary

3D printing is of great interest to mega-brands. It frees product/character designers from the constraints of traditional manufacturing, addresses supply chain issues with volume/location flexibility, and offers ability for customer-driven brand augmentation and customization on an unprecedented level. However, the last barrier to widespread adoption are fears over counterfeiting. Unlike traditional manufacturing, where counterfeiting requires complex tooling, counterfeiting a 3D printed product simply requires access to the 3D data file. That data could be used to make products indistinguishable from authentic originals. Counterfeiting and supply chain vulnerabilities has a global impact of US$1.7Trillion, and costs US mega-brand license owners $250bn annually.

The Ownerchip® DRMB platform provides the infrastructure, language and environment necessary to democratize globally distributed networks of 3D printers. Operating an encrypted T3DSecure® cloud service, Ownerchip® DRMB presents the ability to control, authenticate and verify the provenance of 3D printed products for end-to-end B2B and mass market B2C transactions. OwnerChip® will function as a brokerage service connecting world-renowned brand owners to mass consumers either online or at location-based venues (e.g. retail, sports, theme parks). Ownerchip® converts a standard 3D Print into an intelligent ‘always-on’ 3D Printed consumer touch-point, providing mega-brand license owners with a legitimate brand communication conduit.

OwnerChip® will initially focus on the US$30Bn annual character merchandising segment, of the US$250bn brand licensing market with predicted revenues of €331mn and profits of €129mn within a 5-year timeframe.

Work performed

Within the Phase I project the following work was undertaken:

• Preparation of a robust business plan for Things3D for the commercialization, launch and expansion of the Digital Rights Management platform which includes a PDS Product Design Specification and Potential supply chain partners.

• Sign contracts with a number of commercial partners to enable manufacture and market penetration.

• Identification of appropriate anti-counterfeiting technologies.

• A review of Intellectual Property Protection including Things3D current patents and identification and preparation of any further protection needed to completely protect the system.

• Construct a draft work plan to deliver the authentication technology and other elements of the DRMB system during stage 2 of the project.

• Create social media messaging.

Results achieved to date:

• Robust business plan created at stage 1 that will be revised throughout stage 2 of the project, including a plan for the acquisition of further funding to commercialize and scale up the platform to full industrial readiness.

• Signed contracts in place with high profile commercial partners.

• 3 anti-counterfeiting technologies identified and investigated for later development at Phase II.

• Several national patents in place and global PCT applications instigated.

• Draft work plan to deliver the authentication technology and other elements of the system during stage 2 of the project has been developed

• Social media messaging created on Facebook and Youtube.

Final results

The final results of the Action are defined as:

• A business plan for Things3D for the commercialization, launch and expansion of the OwnerChip® Digital Rights Management platform. 
• Expansion and rollout of core technology stack based on Product Design Specification.
• Vey strong patent portfolio through the identification and preparation of further protection needed to completely protect the DRMB platform.
• Execution of the Business Plan for the commercialization, launch and expansion of the DRMB platform.

The final impacts of the Action are defined as:

• Ownerchip represents a genuine global business opportunity of European origin.
• The project will deliver profitability and rapid growth to Things3D directly.
• The project will deliver profitability and rapid growth and benefits to a number of 3D printing bureaus, many of which are SMEs.
• We aim to achieve 5% penetration of the character merchandising segment, worth €500Mn in terms of revenue.
• €150 Mn Euros of additional revenue into the 3D printing industry which can be equated to around 1,000 new jobs.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.things3d.com.