What Do We Know About the Stratasys Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Bambu Lab?
It may be August, but it does not seem that the 3D printing market is resting. Only four short months since Markforged was ordered to pay $17M to Continuous Composites in a final ending to a patent infringement lawsuit that had been ongoing since 2021, we have a new one. More specifically, one of the pioneering 3D printer manufacturers, Stratasys, has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against rapidly growing newcomer Bambu Lab. Thus adding to a wider discussion within additive manufacturing on intellectual property rights.
Despite some issues over the past few years, including security concerns (which the company itself has addressed) and a recall of the popular A1 3D printer due to potentially grave heating issues due to damage to cables, Bambu Lab has grown significantly in popularity since its explosive entry onto the market in 2022. Indeed, in a report from market intelligence firm CONTEXT from April, it seemed that sales seem to be slowing for industrial, midrange and professional 3D printers while entry-level was growing. And this was mostly driven by the success of Bambu Lab.
The patent infringement case from Stratasys centers on technologies and printers using FDM 3D printing (photo credits: Stratasys)
Now with this patent infringement lawsuit, it is clear that 3D printing solution providers are taking notice. And although Bambu Lab has made waves with its significantly faster extrusion, multicolor 3D printing, now Stratasys is claiming that this is only possible as it has infringed upon technology from Stratasys. As such, Stratasys has filed two lawsuits Civil Action No. 2:24-cv-644 and Civil Action No. 2:24-cv-00645 in Texas claiming infringement for the following US patents: No. 9,421,713; No. 9,592,660; No. 7,555,357; No. 9,168,698; No. 10,556,381; No.10,569,466; No. 11,167,464; No. 8,747,097; No. 11,886,774; No. 8,562,324. The first five especially are of particular relevance for the consumer 3D printing market.
A Closer Look at the Patent Infringement Lawsuit by Stratasys Against Bambu Lab
But what do these patent infringements claims actually mean? Well, they cover quite a lot of different factors, many of which are arguably key features in many of the new desktop 3D printers on the market. Potentially opening up more manufacturers to lawsuits if Stratasys is successful in its claims against Bambu Lab. As mentioned, this is especially the case for the first lawsuit (cv-644) which covers patent infringements based on the 3D printers themselves due to the process, purge towers and even the presence of a heated build platform. The second case mostly concerns the ability of a 3D printer to recognize the installed filament.
In lawsuit cv-644, Stratasys is claiming that Bambu Lab has infringed upon patents it is holding relating to the use of a patented additive manufacturing method for printing 3D printed parts with purge towers (used to switch between colors in multicolor printing), heated build platform systems that are used for thermoplastics with a temperature control unit that have a polymer coating rather than tape (for printing with more technical materials), using an extrusion-based layer deposition system (FDM 3D printing in other words) and two related to 3D printers with contact force, specifically related to detection of contact force against an extruder or other tool head including during fabrication.
Stratasys has named the entire line of Bambu Lab 3D printers in the lawsuit, including the P1S (photo credits: 3Dnatives)
These patents are related to features that are used by other 3D printer manufacturers, including heated beds, FDM 3D printing systems and purge towers. This of course includes Bambu Lab which is known for its fast and effective multicolor printing with heated chambers with all its printing solutions, the A1, A1 mini, P1S, X1-Carbon and P1P, named in the various lawsuits. It should be noted that it seems that all patents are currently held by Stratasys with extended deadlines reaching past 2030 in most cases. What Bambu Lab will now need to do is prove either that they do not infringe on the patents or that they are not valid.
Right now, it’s hard to say what will actually happen. Previous lawsuits from Stratasys, for example against Afinia have failed, but we all remember the case between Formlabs and 3D Systems where Formlabs was required to pay for found patent infringement. In any case, it seems that many supporters of Bambu Lab see this as a direct attack on the hobbyist commercial 3D printer market, essentially coming for the quickly growing Chinese companies which have started to dominate consumer 3D printing. However, it is also important to keep in mind that the patent infringement will only be relevant for printers sold in the USA, with right now no other regions named. Tiertime, Contour Technology, Beijing Yinhua Laser Rapid Prototyping and Mould Technology and Tuozhu Technology Limited were also named in the civil action lawsuits. You can read cv-644 HERE and cv-645 HERE.
*Update August 10th, 2024: Bambu Lab made a statement on X regarding the lawsuit: “We have taken note of the relevant information. As of now, we have not received any formal documents from the court, but we are closely monitoring the situation. We will actively respond to this case in accordance with the appropriate legal procedures to protect our legitimate rights and interests. Bambu Lab has always advocated for and upheld the principles of respecting and protecting intellectual property. Through continuous research and technological innovation, we strive to provide our users with the best possible 3D printing experience. We also advocate our industry peers to drive the development of the sector through genuine technological innovation.” We will let you know if any further updates come out about this case.
What do you think of the Stratasys lawsuit against Bambu Lab? What do you think it could mean for the hobbyist FDM 3D printing market? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly newsletter here for the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.
Personally, Stratasys sounds like another patent troll to me. Reminds me of the payment processing era where a company came out and tried to enforce patents again the ability to take payments online. It was all a bunch of tripe and amounted to nothing. Although, the lawyers made a lot of money. All this does is make me never want to have anything to do with Stratasys in the future.
In the first 10 years of the personal computer market there were a number of patent suits vs smaller but rapidly growing companies. In the end most were resolved by an agreement for royalties. This is what I suspect Stratasys’s goal is. Board of directors and investors want to maximize the revenue of the company and that would include patent royalties.
The real issue is that FDM printing was invented in the US by Stratasys. Bambu is a Chinees backed and funded company. It is the Chinese government VS. a American company. This is a David and Goliath moment. We need to cheer for Stratasys and other innovative companies in the USA. Stop the Chinese from undercutting the American made market. Don’t forget the 100’s of “hobby” printer manufactures that Stratasys did not sue and Bambu is hurting by dumping tech on the American market.. Most companies do not have the money to go against the Chinese Government..