Labubu Sues Bambu Lab Over MakerWorld IP Theft — Designer Characters 3D Printed by Users

MakerWorld in Hot Water Over IP

Labubu, the pop culture character designer behind the Labubu toy line, has filed a lawsuit against Bambu Lab in Chinese court, alleging that the 3D printer manufacturer's MakerWorld design repository hosts unauthorized 3D printed copies of its copyrighted characters.

While Bambu Lab builds tools to protect creators on its platform, the lawsuit turns the tables on the 3D printing giant — positioning Bambu Lab as potentially responsible for IP violations committed by users of its machines and platform.

Platform Responsibility Under Scrutiny

The case raises questions about platform liability in the 3D printing ecosystem. Bambu Lab's MakerWorld is one of the largest repositories of 3D printable designs, hosting thousands of models created by community designers. Some of these designs have reproduced copyrighted characters without authorization.

The lawsuit alleges that Bambu Lab should bear some responsibility for the distribution of infringing designs hosted on its platform — similar to debates that have played out in other digital platform contexts.

Bambu Lab's Creator Protection Tools

Bambu Lab has recently implemented tools designed to protect creators, including digital rights management features and creator verification systems. However, the lawsuit suggests these protections may be insufficient or inconsistently applied.

This case could set a precedent for how 3D printing platform operators are held accountable for user-generated content featuring copyrighted material.