Puget Initiates IP protection for 3D printer technologies in development

FT. LAUDERDALE, USA: Puget Technologies has announced that the company is delivering affordable 3D printing for personal use in the consumer marketplace with the announcement of plans to file patent and mark protection to protect intellectual property specific to the SnapSearch app and PrintSnaptic platform.

"IP protection is a significant part of our go-forward strategy in the 3D printing space," said Ron Leyland, president and CEO of Puget Technologies. "We understand the investment we must make to not only deliver a unique 3D printing platform, but to develop our supporting technologies. In 2014 alone, Puget forecasts 5.6 percent of its revenues in R&D. We are expected to protect the investment of our shareholders."

3D printing has made the transition to producing unique consumer goods, allowing user creativity to constantly discover new applications for the technology. Puget plans to leverage the growing interest in personal 3D printing for crafting, jewelry, and domestic goods.

SnapSearch was conceived as a smart phone app allowing the user to take a picture of an image or scan a UPC symbol to search its database of 3D source files, making royalty-free and licensed product images more widely available.

The PrintSnaptic is a software bundle allowing the user the ability to upload and download images for 3D printing. With the ability to see and edit images right on the screen, users can take 3D creativity to a new level.

According to Gartner's recent report, end-user spending on 3D printers is now forecasted to exceed $412 million this year, up 43 percent from spending of $288 million in 2012 - with an even larger increase of 62 percent projected for next year, reaching $669 million.

While Gartner's forecast accounts for enterprises continuing to dominate 3D printer purchases the consumer segment is expected to exceed $133 million.