Printable firearms, 3D Printers and DRM

"A new patent, issued this week by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office and titled 'Manufacturing control system', describes a system whereby 3D printer-like machines (the patent actually covers additive, subtractive, extrusion, melting, solidification, and other types of manufacturing) will have to obtain authorization before they are allowed to print items requested by the user."

This seems like a way to preemptively block the printing of anything deemed to be illegal.  Be it a weapon or a copy of an existing product or anything which in some way or fashion might resemble someone's existing patent, design or trademark.  My view of 3D printing is this.  It is currently the closest we have come to the Star Trek Replicator than any other thing to date.

By adding in restrictions such as this, creativity will be stifled.  Thereby stifling future enhancements of the technology.  For all we know, someone now experimenting with 3D printing could be the person who figures out how to print new organs for the human body.  Like a new heart valve or full heart.

But if we stifle the technology now, limit it and restrict it, how can new breakthroughs come about?  Who would want to experiment if something they are working on comes just a little close to someone elses patent but isn't quite there?  They could still be restricted from printing it, just because it comes close.  It sort of reminds me of stories from the former Soviet Union.  Where hundreds of researchers had their energies "channeled" toward a certain result.  Leaving no room for true innovation.  Seriously, look through the various articles on Soviet Military equipment as it compared to US and NATO Military equipment.  Soviet equipment was larger and less reliable using technology several generations out of date to US and NATO technology.  While we the US had stealth fighters and bombers, true laptop computers.  Much smaller communications equipment which had many more functions as well.

Are we really going to allow such protectionism to stifle true innovation?

And before you speak up claiming that true innovation isn't real, kind of like Obama's "You didn't build that" speech.  All innovation is built upon the innovations that have come before it.  So yes, without previous technology we couldn't create tomorrows technology.  But to limit the research and experimentation you might as well put true innovation in a box, nail it shut and bury it.

How many true innovations come from big giant labs?  Below are a few links about the origins of 3D printing, I suggest you read them.  How many of them are the result of research at big giant technology companies?  And how many are independent researchers and university students just experimenting?

So who invented 3D printing anyway?

The Effect of University Monopoly Licensing in 3d Printing 

The Rapid Prototyping Patent Museum

So who designed 3D printing?  Who designed the software to control the printer?  Who desigend the materials used in printing?

Too many things that are the result of experimentation by ordinary people.  If you restrict what can and cannot be created, you stifle creativity. 

And we are the poorer for it.