Etsy has launched new guidelines that prohibit how distributors promote 3D printed items.
In an replace to its ‘Creativity Requirements’, objects produced utilizing “computerised instruments,” like 3D printers, laser cutters, or Cricut machines, should now be “produced based mostly on a vendor’s unique design.”
This marks a major shift for the favored on-line market, which revealed its Creativity Requirements framework in July 2024. Initially, 3D printed objects might be produced “utilizing a templated design or sample.” This included commercially licensed information bought from file-sharing platforms resembling Thangs and bought with the designer’s permission.
That coverage remained in impact as just lately as Might twenty ninth, 2025, in accordance with archived information on the Wayback Machine. Nevertheless, Etsy has now revised its guidelines, quietly eradicating the clause that permitted using third-party design information. Eagle-eyed makers noticed the change, which was additionally reported by Tom’s {Hardware}.
The replace has drawn a combined response in the neighborhood. Supporters welcome the transfer, arguing it curbs the glut of near-identical merchandise filling Etsy’s digital cabinets and strengthens mental property protections.
Critics counter that it penalises designers who depend on revenue from industrial licensing, and sellers who function inside authorized bounds. Others are involved that enforcement will show troublesome and will unintentionally impression the unique creators.
Etsy’s new 3D printing tips ban non-original designs
Etsy’s resolution final yr to introduce its new Creativity Requirements was pushed by the corporate’s “mission to maintain commerce human.” It additionally sought to enhance readability on what merchandise are allowed on Etsy, and why.
By means of the coverage reorganization, the corporate revealed that each one objects listed on Etsy should match into one in all 4 classes: Made by a vendor, Designed by a vendor, Sourced by a vendor, or Handpicked by a vendor.
The primary class, Made by a vendor, has the best impression on these providing 3D printed items. It covers bodily objects created by the vendor, both by hand or utilizing private or computerised instruments. On the time of the coverage’s introduction, Etsy permitted using such instruments, together with 3D printers, to supply objects “based mostly on a vendor’s unique design, or utilizing a templated design or sample, and are sometimes customized or personalized to a purchaser’s specification.”
Etsy initially claimed the Creativity Requirements replace was “about clarifying what’s allowed on Etsy, not altering it.” Nevertheless, the corporate has since amended its guidelines. Sellers can solely record 3D printed merchandise that they’ve designed themselves.
Moreover, distributors should use unique photograph or video content material of the completed product on their Etsy itemizing pages. For personalised objects, the primary picture should present the finished product, not a clean template or placeholder textual content resembling “Your Textual content Right here.”
These necessities, set out within the unique Creativity Requirements revealed final yr, prohibit using pictures equipped by the design file’s creator. This coverage, now aligned with the up to date guidelines, helps guarantee every vendor designed the product in addition to produced it.
Licensing and IP restrictions increase issues
Etsy’s current rule change has unsettled the 3D printing neighborhood. Critics argue the transfer restricts distributors from promoting 3D printed fashions legally licensed from designers. Many creators on file-sharing platforms resembling Thangs and Printables explicitly allow makers to buy, print, and resell their designs.
Posting in a Reddit thread, one person wrote, “This sucks for the shoppers that like these fashions however can’t afford to have a printer.” One other expressed comparable frustration: “We straight pay the artists for the flexibility to supply a printing service by way of Etsy,” they stated. “Now myself and different retailers are involved that we would get kicked off of Etsy for not creating the content material ourselves although we’re straight paying the artists for the flexibility to make use of their fashions.”
Earlier this yr, comparable issues had been raised when 3DBenchy remixes had been faraway from Printables. At its introduction in 2015, the favored 3D printing benchmark mannequin was topic to Artistic Commons BY-ND 4.0 licensing, which forbids the redistribution of remixed materials. Nevertheless, this was not actively enforced by Artistic Instruments, the mannequin’s creator.
In January 2025, Reddit person u/mkrjoe shared a message from Printables buyer help suggesting that each one spinoff 3DBenchy fashions can be faraway from Printables. This raised backlash on-line, with many manufacturers expressing concern that re-designs might not be shared on the Prusa Analysis-run file-sharing website.
This adopted information that NTI Group acquired Artistic Instruments and the IP rights for the 3DBenchy design. Some speculated that the Danish digital options supplier was actively pursuing licensing reinforcement.
Nevertheless, Henriette Tamasauskas, NTI’s Chief Advertising Officer (CMO), advised 3D Printing Business that NTI Group had not taken any motion to take away 3DBenchy remixes. As a substitute, Prusa Analysis CMO Rudolf Krčmář confirmed that Printables enforced the takedowns in response to a “third-party report.”
In response to those issues, NTI Group collaborated with the unique designers, Daniel Norée and Paulo Kiefe, to launch 3DBenchy into the general public area. It now carries a CC0 licence, allowing unrestricted remixing, modification, and distribution.
In one other controversial case from 2022, automotive producer Honda issued Prusa Analysis a takedown discover for all Honda-related 3D printable information on Printables. The Japanese automaker reportedly delivered a “large authorized doc” outlining the infringing information. Consequently, all fashions posted earlier than 30 March 2022 had been pulled from the positioning.
Who received the 2024 3D Printing Business Awards?
Subscribe to the 3D Printing Business e-newsletter to maintain up with the newest 3D printing information.
It’s also possible to observe us on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Business Youtube channel to entry extra unique content material.
Featured picture reveals 3D printed dragons on Etsy. Picture by way of Etsy.
