Introduction: The Legal Side of 3D Printing

Before you sell a physical 3D print of a model you found online, you must verify that the designer has granted commercial rights. Violating license terms can lead to take-down notices and legal issues.

Creative Commons (CC) Decoded

• CC BY: Attribution. You can sell and remix, but you must credit the creator.
• CC BY-SA: ShareAlike. You can sell, but remixes must use the same open license.
• CC BY-ND: NoDerivatives. You can sell, but you cannot modify the design files.
• CC BY-NC: Non-Commercial. You cannot sell prints or remixes of this model (personal use only).

Standard Digital File License

• MakerWorld's Default License: Standard Digital File License.
• Rules: Prohibits commercial selling of prints, sharing files, and modifications without express written consent from the designer.

Commercial Badges in the Calculator

• Commercial Friendly: badge showing "Commercial Use Allowed" (for CC BY, CC BY-SA, CC BY-ND, CC0).
• Personal Use Only: badge showing "Personal Use Only" (for CC BY-NC, Standard Digital File License).

Conclusion

How to respect designer rights, license-compliant attribution formats, and how to contact creators to negotiate commercial agreements.