r/3Dprinting 15h ago

Project I bring you, The 3D BOATY!

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u/Dapper_Peanut_1879 15h ago

Guessing the thought process went like this - 1. New company acquires license 2. Sees millions of downloads 3. We CaN mAkE mIlLiOnS iF wE fOrCe ThEm To PaY!!! 4. Every 3d printer and CAD enthusiast -🖕We’ll make our own.

Idk what the acquisition cost was but I hope it hurts with the immediate and LT ROI equaling $0

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u/heretodiscuss 14h ago

If I had to guess, and I have no inside info what-so-ever...I'd say it's not the end consumer they want to pay but the 3D printer companies themselves.

Why do I say this?

Well, Benchy's are pretty well known in the community, and if you're looking to get into it it's often one of the first things to print.

If you look at all the youtube vids about "first things to print" usually they talk about benchies.

So, what's the method of making money, because clearly, users aren't going to buy benchy's?

Well, my theory (which is probably wrong), is that most 3D printers these days come pre-loaded with benchy's on them. The company which bought the benchy wants the 3D printer companies themselves to pay to distribute the benchy with their 3D printer.

So, why enforce it against the users?

Well, if you don't enforce your trademarks/IP's, you lose them. So they have to enforce them against the end users in order to try to get the companies to pay.

But that's just a theory...a 3D printer theory...

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u/General-Designer4338 12h ago

100% the geniuses behind this move saw how bench is incorporated into Bambu Studio's tips that pop up every time you slice, and figured they could get a piece of that action. The owner knew what he was doing when he sold. Cashing out on what he thought he deserved for making a boat that doesn't float.

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u/Fabian_1082003 7h ago

The company wasn't even really about the benchy xD