copyright software copyright-transfer copyfraud
Can I sell the file OR a print of a 3D model that I significantly altered?
<p>I downloaded a freely available .stl file that is a fan-made model of a space ship from a well-known sci-fi universe. The fan posted the file under a Creative Commons - Attribution - Non-Commercial license. I edited it significantly (by reshaping, deforming, resizing, adding details, etc.) and put it onto a stand I created. I 3D printed the resulting model and use it as a piece in a board game.</p>
<p>Two of my friends saw it: one wants to buy a printed copy from me and the other wants to buy a copy of the .stl file so that he can print it himself. Am I allowed to sell either of those things to my friends? One of my friends is telling me that since I've altered the work by more than 30%, it's mine and I can sell it.</p>
<p>If I do the same thing with a 3D file that has only a Creative Commons - Attribution or Creative Commons - Attribution - Share Alike license, could I then sell it?</p>

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<p>The license won't let you sell the .stl file. Probably you have created a derivative work, which means you can't sell it without a copyright license (and the CC-A-NC won't do).</p>
<p>If it were licensed under CC-A you could sell it without problems (you'd have to give attribution, of course). You could also sell it under the CC-A-SA, but once you do you have no control over the result -- anyone you sold it to could give it to someone else under the terms of the license. This could work, though, if it were (say) a commission and you only expected to sell one copy.</p>
<p>I don't know what the situation would be with the physical objects printed under any of these licenses.</p>

<h2>Double No</h2>
<h3>You did a No!</h3>
<p>Let's start simple: How did you obtain the file? Under a license that explicitly banned you from using the file in any way in a commercial capacity. You can't free the file or its products from this license but by acquiring it with a commercial allowed license. So this is one No on sale of STL or print.</p>
<h3>The STL might be a No too</h3>
<p>However, there's also another fat no: the file is a facsimile of a depiction of an item in a show. The copyright in that look is with the show's makers. The very STL downloaded could be copyright infringement in the first place or covered under a permissive &quot;fan license&quot;. Usually such fan-tribute is not acted upon by showrunners, as such items draw fans, but exceptions exist.</p>
<p>If your derivate of the show's derivate is sold, that can not just give rise for a breach of license how you acquired the STL, but also copyright infringement from the copyright holder - which is <strong>very</strong> expensive. Show and File-maker might even join forces for maximum punishment!</p>
