This 22-year leap ahead of schedule reflects a 14.2 per cent increase over earlier long-term growth projections and signals not only growing demand, but also the evolving legal infrastructure enabling its expansion.
The regulatory changes aim to address the challenges faced by 3D printing intellectual property (IP) owners and are likely to accelerate further growth of the industry. New developments in UK-EU trade relations and the European Union’s redesign of its intellectual property regime have made the sector more navigable and protected than ever before.
This regulatory advancement has continued, with changes on May 1, 2025 coming into force. The EU revamped its registered design system to explicitly protect non-physical designs such as 3D print files, graphical user interfaces, and animations, giving rights holders the power to block unauthorised copying and sharing of digital design files. In addition, since July 2022, the European Patent Office has allowed patent protection for additive manufacturing software, closing a key gap in IP coverage.
In a statement, Susan Bradley, Partner at Marks & Clerk, said: “3D printing is no longer a future-facing technology – it’s a commercially viable, IP-secured and regulation-supported industry. This legal turning point, especially in software protection, opens up significant opportunities for businesses operating across the UK and EU.”
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A new whitepaper from Marks & Clerk, 3DP/IP 2025: From Design to Download - IP Protection in the age of 3D printing, explores how businesses can thrive amid these shifts highlighting advances in material innovation, IP strategy and sustainability.
With metal 3D printing alone growing at 30 per cent annually, unexpected levels of adoption in sectors such as agriculture, and applications ranging from aerospace to furniture made from ocean plastic, innovation is no longer limited by legal grey areas or technical boundaries.
“When it comes to 3D printing, IP is now keeping pace with innovation. Companies can’t afford to treat legal protections as an afterthought, particularly in high-growth sectors like this," Bradley added. "The updated regulatory framework offers practical tools for competitiveness, investor confidence and long-term scalability.”
Available to read now, the updated whitepaper offers practical guidance on navigating cross-border IP law, protecting innovations and building resilient businesses in a newly favourable regulatory environment.
