Can I sell 3D prints? Licences explained simply
are explained briefly when you hover over or tap them.
Downloading a model for free does not mean you can do whatever you like with it. Every model belongs to its designer, and the licence sets out whether you may modify it, pass it on or sell prints of it. So anyone who wants to offer prints at markets, on Etsy or in their own shop should read the licence before printing.
This article is not legal advice. It explains the basic terms. If in doubt, ask the designer directly or get advice from a specialist lawyer in copyright and media law.
Creative Commons: the four building blocks
Most free models are under a Creative Commons (CC) licence. It is made up of building blocks:
- BY (attribution): You must credit the designer. Included in all CC licences.
- SA (share alike): If you modify the model and share it, your version must be under the same licence.
- NC (non-commercial): Non-commercial use only. Creative Commons defines this as use that is not primarily intended for commercial advantage or payment. Selling printed parts clearly falls under it.
- ND (no derivatives): You may modify the model for yourself, but you may not pass on the modified version.
There is also CC0: the designer waives their rights as far as possible. You may do anything with it, even without attribution.
What can I do with which licence?
| Licence | Sell prints | Modify and share remixes | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC0 | yes | yes | none |
| CC BY | yes | yes | credit the designer |
| CC BY-SA | yes | yes | credit the designer, remix under the same licence |
| CC BY-ND | yes | no | credit the designer, only pass on unmodified |
| CC BY-NC | no | yes | credit the designer, non-commercial |
| CC BY-NC-SA | no | yes | credit the designer, non-commercial, same licence |
| CC BY-NC-ND | no | no | credit the designer, non-commercial, unmodified |
Two points are often overlooked:
- A remix takes on the licence of the original. If you modify an NC model, you may not sell your version either, no matter how much you changed.
- CC licences are irrevocable. If a designer has published a model under CC BY, that continues to apply to this version even if they later change the licence. If in doubt, take a screenshot of the licence at the time of download.
Platform-specific licences
Some platforms have their own licences alongside Creative Commons. On MakerWorld, for example, there is the “Standard Digital File License”. It does not allow commercial use, passing on the file or remixes. Other platforms have similar models. In such a case, read the licence text on the platform, because it is usually narrower than a CC licence.
Commercial licences and subscriptions
Many designers offer permission to sell in return for payment. This usually works in two ways:
- Individual commercial licence: You buy a model together with the right to sell prints of it.
- Seller subscription: Through memberships on platforms such as Printables, Thangs, MyMiniFactory or Patreon you get access to models and often a selling licence.
Each designer sets the terms themselves. Typical restrictions are a maximum number of prints sold, physical prints only rather than files, a duty to credit the designer in the shop, or the licence only applying while the subscription runs. Read the terms carefully before you spend any money. Important: buying a model does not automatically mean you may also sell prints of it. Buying the file and being allowed to sell the prints are two different things.
If a model is only under NC, you can write to the designer. Many allow selling for a small fee or a share of the revenue.
Your own designs
It is easiest with models that you design yourself. You hold the rights to them and decide yourself whether you sell them or under which licence you publish them. How to get started with designing is covered under Creating your own 3D models.
Be careful with remixes: if you took someone else’s model as a basis, its licence continues to apply.
Characters, logos and trademarks
This is where it gets tricky. Characters from films, series and games are almost always protected by copyright, and names and logos are also protected as trademarks. Creative Commons licences only govern the copyright in the model itself; they do not cover trademark and patent rights.
That means:
- Fan models on platforms are often tolerated but rarely permitted. Even if the designer states CC BY, they cannot give you rights to someone else’s character.
- Modelling it yourself changes nothing. If you recreate a well-known character, that is an adaptation of the protected original. To sell it, you need the permission of the rights holder.
- Logos and brand names on products can lead to cease-and-desist letters, even in small quantities.
For private use, a fan print is generally unproblematic. As soon as you sell, you should keep your hands off protected characters and logos or have an official licence.
If you sell regularly
Anyone who sells prints on an ongoing basis with the intention of making a profit generally needs a registered business in Germany. There are also obligations for product safety, labelling and withdrawal, in the EU including through the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). For toys, parts that come into contact with food or electrical devices in particular, further requirements apply. Get advice on this before you start, for example from the IHK (Chamber of Industry and Commerce).
In short
- Read the licence below the model before you print and sell.
- NC means: no selling, not even of remixes.
- Commercial licences only apply under the designer’s terms.
- Do not sell characters, logos and trademarks without permission.
- If in doubt, ask the designer or get legal advice.
Continue with: Finding 3D models, which explains where to find the licence on the platforms. What a sold print really costs is worked out in the article on Print costs.