Probably most 3D makers have heard, or at least once come across, the American corporation Stratasys. Since 1988, it has been at the forefront of the development of additive technologies, particularly extrusion-based 3D printing. Recently, Stratasys filed a lawsuit against Bambu Lab for what it calls the unlawful use of their patents. Many makers consider the accusations absurd, as nearly all 3D printer manufacturers using FDM/FFF technologies employ similar solutions in production. Moreover, 3D printing enthusiasts find it hard to believe that a Chinese company could have acted irresponsibly regarding legal aspects, leading to such consequences. 

What actually happened, what is the essence of the case, and what are the possible outcomes? We reviewed numerous documents, public opinions, and analyst articles and are ready to share a concise and informative overview.

The alleged patent infringements involve Bambu Lab X1 Carbon and X1E, P1P and P1S, A1 and A1 Mini — essentially the company’s entire printer lineup.

The plaintiff company demands jury trials and seeks compensation for lost profits, legal expenses, and, of course, the cessation of patent violations. It is worth noting that objectivity may be questioned, as jurors likely lack the technical knowledge required to provide an impartial assessment of the situation..

Currently, two lawsuits are known, each involving different patents. The first claims include:

  • US9421713B2 — additive manufacturing for printing volumetric parts with purification towers that are built during filament changes to prevent mixing of different colors.

  • US9592660B2 — a heated platform, without which it is practically impossible to produce printed models, as the printer bed must be heated to ensure proper adhesion of future parts.

  • US7555357B2, US9168698B2, and US10556381B2 — methods for forming objects and sensors for extruder calibration to ensure printing accuracy.

In the second lawsuit, Stratasys accuses Bambu Lab of violating five additional patents: 

  • US10569466B2 and US11167464B2 — wireless connection to the 3D printer and filament marking using RFID tags for material identification.

  • US8747097B2 — networked 3D printer with a scanner.

  • US11886774B2 — detecting and using information about the printer configuration.

  • US8562324B2 — networked 3D printing.

Try to name at least one extrusion-based 3D printer manufacturer that does not use at least one of the above solutions…

Although the claims were made public almost a month ago, Bambu Lab stated that it has not yet received official documents regarding the case. It is important to note that the matter currently concerns only the U.S. market. In case of a loss, Bambu Lab may be prohibited from selling products in the United States, but this will not affect Europe, Australia, or other parts of the world. However, the fact that losing the U.S. market would be a serious financial blow for the Chinese manufacturer cannot be ignored. This development could lead to a global increase in the price of branded products.

Reference Information

  • Stratasys revenue for Q1 2024 was $144.1 million, $5.3 million lower than the same period last year. Nevertheless, the corporation’s overall performance over the last decade remains relatively stable.

  • At the same time, Bambu Lab demonstrated nearly 3000% growth in shipments during 2023, delivering about one million 3D printers in Q1 alone.

Foreign media already loudly report that Bambu Lab has fallen victim to its own success. In just a few years, they flooded the AM industry, pushing aside previously well-known and popular brands, and now must defend the legality of their products in a foreign court.

 

However, it is still too early to discuss the outcome of this confrontation, as many aspects remain unknown, and the defendant company has not yet provided any comments. We will follow the news closely to keep track of the most important developments in this dispute.