VOA标准英语2014--Laws Slow to Catch Up With 3D Printing

 

Laws Slow to Catch Up With 3D Printing 

WASHINGTON — As prices of 3D printers continue to fall, experts are increasingly calling for reconsideration of copyright laws that protect the owners of patents and designs. However, they also warn that overreaching laws could stifle¹ new ideas.

Very rapidly, 3D printers have spread from scientific labs to industrial workshops to private homes.

The range of available machines is on display at 3D print shows, like this one held last November in London - from sophisticated models that can print complex objects, such as replicas² of human organs, to more affordable³ machines that make children’s toys or parts for home appliances.

A German firm recently displayed a prototype of a car chassis⁴ printed in one piece, while a Chinese manufacturer advertised a house created in a 3D printer.

With the help of a computer, practically anyone can print exact copies of a variety of objects - and potentially violate the law.

Julie Samuels is a Senior Staff Attorney with the U.S. civil liberties group, Electronic Frontier Foundation.

“If a certain design that you want to print is covered by copyright, then if you print that you are infringing⁵, arguably, someone's copyright," said Samuels.

But 3D companies warn that passing more restrictive copyright protection laws could impede⁶ both citizens’ rights and technological⁷ innovation.

Several decades ago, legislatures and the music industry were equally slow to adjust when suddenly anyone could copy music, first to magnetic and now electronic media.

But just as in the music industry, the founder⁸ of the website 3DPlus.me, Cydni Tetro, says she expects to see 3D licenses⁹ very soon.

“All of those companies are in very active engagements right now about how they'll deploy¹⁰ 3D printed products over the next year, and we're going to see that," said Tetro.

3D printer designer Diego Porqueras says owners of 3D printers and copyright owners should come to terms.

“If companies really take advantage of that and just charge nominal¹¹ fees to download your favorite character off Star Wars and 3D print it, I think that's going to prevent a lot more piracy," said Porqueras.

 

The lack of legislation related to 3D printing will hardly stop the technology from spreading, but experts say they hope the new laws will not punish people for printing a copy of something for their personal use.

1 stifle   

vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止

参考例句：

• She tried hard to stifle her laughter.她强忍住笑。
• It was an uninteresting conversation and I had to stifle a yawn.那是一次枯燥无味的交谈，我不得不强忍住自己的呵欠。

2 replicas   

n.复制品( replica的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His hobby is building replicas of cars. 他的爱好是制作汽车的复制品。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The replicas are made by using a thin film of fusible alloy on a stiffening platen. 复制是用附着在加强托板上的可熔合金薄膜实现的。 来自辞典例句

3 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

4 chassis   

n.汽车等之底盘；（飞机的）起落架；炮底架

参考例句：

• The new parts may include the sheet metal,the transmission,or the chassis.新部件可能包括钢壳，变速器或底盘。
• Can chassis and whole-vehicle manufacturers co-exist peacefully?底盘企业和整车企业能相安无事吗？

5 infringing   

v.违反（规章等）( infringe的现在分词 )；侵犯（某人的权利）；侵害（某人的自由、权益等）

参考例句：

• The material can be copied without infringing copyright. 这份材料可以复制，不会侵犯版权。
• The media is accused of infringing on people's privacy. 人们指责媒体侵犯了大家的隐私。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 impede   

v.妨碍，阻碍，阻止

参考例句：

• One shouldn't impede other's progress.一个人不应该妨碍他人进步。
• The muddy roads impede our journey.我们的旅游被泥泞的道路阻挠了。

7 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

8 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

9 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句

10 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

11 nominal   

adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的

参考例句：

• The king was only the nominal head of the state. 国王只是这个国家名义上的元首。
• The charge of the box lunch was nominal.午餐盒饭收费很少。