Some government-funded research is intended to spin off new businesses. I think it's good that they can choose between different models like proprietary and open information to best match the situation and their goals.
Why do you think that an open information model would have been better in this case?
Reprap launched when the first FFF patents were expiring, and kicked off a huge burst of creativity and innovation in 3D printing that continues to this day.
Right, so the reprap came well after the invention of fused filament, following the typical technology lifecycle of invention, then commercialization, then democratization.
Comments
Some government-funded research is intended to spin off new businesses. I think it's good that they can choose between different models like proprietary and open information to best match the situation and their goals.
Why do you think that an open information model would have been better in this case?
Look at the revolution the reprap project produced, imagine that with carbide.
Fused filament had already been commercialized more than a decade before reprap. Maybe check back in ten years.
Reprap launched when the first FFF patents were expiring, and kicked off a huge burst of creativity and innovation in 3D printing that continues to this day.
Right, so the reprap came well after the invention of fused filament, following the typical technology lifecycle of invention, then commercialization, then democratization.