Is the MakerBot Digital Store the iTunes of Digital Designs?

[Solidabble]

Geoff, I don't think it's a matter of having the company print it and make money off of it. The way I suspect it to work is that you will upload your design, and people will be able to purchase that designs from you directly using the MakerBot storefront. MakerBot would take a commission off all sales, but won't be doing the actual printing. Instead the person that downloads the design can print it however they'd like; either at home on their own printer, or via a 3D Printing service. I would suspect other companies will be opening similar marketplaces.

Amazon.com and Walmart stores are two that I see doing this. However, just like distributors of toys, games, books, kitcheware, etc can sell their products in multiple locations, the same can be said about these 3D designs. Now they just need to make a way to copyright protect these designs, so that someone can't buy them and redistribute them via warez websites.

[Geoff]

Geoff, I don't think it's a matter of having the company print it and make money off of it. The way I suspect it to work is that you will upload your design, and people will be able to purchase that designs from you directly using the MakerBot storefront. MakerBot would take a commission off all sales, but won't be doing the actual printing. Instead the person that downloads the design can print it however they'd like; either at home on their own printer, or via a 3D Printing service. I would suspect other companies will be opening similar marketplaces.

Amazon.com and Walmart stores are two that I see doing this. However, just like distributors of toys, games, books, kitcheware, etc can sell their products in multiple locations, the same can be said about these 3D designs. Now they just need to make a way to copyright protect these designs, so that someone can't buy them and redistribute them via warez websites.

Well, if you were to make a percentage of each sale and they make a percentage I guess that's fair, at least they cover all the overheads.