03-20-2018: Desktop Metal accused Markforged of infringing on patents related to metal 3D printing technology (BMD vs. ADAM)
Years later both companies were acquired by Nano Dimension
On March 20, 2018, Desktop Metal filed a lawsuit against Markforged in the Federal Court of Massachusetts, accusing the company of patent infringement regarding the technology used in their 3D printers. The lawsuit specifically addressed the metal dispersion process technology, which allegedly violated Desktop Metal’s patents. Markforged denied all accusations and countersued, claiming that Desktop Metal had no grounds for such allegations. They argued that their technology was developed independently and did not use any of Desktop Metal's trade secrets.
The trial began in June 2018, attracting significant attention within the 3D printing industry.
However, the whole story began in 2013, when Greg Mark founded Markforged, a company producing 3D printers capable of printing with continuous carbon fiber, glass, or Kevlar. The first 3D printer, Mark One, debuted on January 27, 2014, receiving high praise within the industry.
Ric Fulop, an investor and entrepreneur, played a crucial role in the development of Markforged. He joined the company in 2013, helping secure funding and develop its products. However, in 2015, Fulop left Markforged to establish a competing company, Desktop Metal, which focused on metal 3D printing, promising faster and more cost-effective production methods. Backed by investors, including Google Ventures, Desktop Metal quickly raised huge funds for its development.
The conflict between the companies escalated as both began developing similar metal printing technologies. In 2017, Markforged introduced the ADAM technology, based on printing with a metal filament that was sintered after printing. At the same time, Desktop Metal was working on a competing method called BMD, which also used metal filament but differed in process details.
In March 2018, Desktop Metal sued Markforged, accusing it of patent infringement. After reviewing the case, the jury ruled in June 2018 that Markforged had not infringed on Desktop Metal’s patents, clearing Markforged of all charges.
Then Desktop Metal accused Markforged of stealing trade secrets, claiming that a former Desktop Metal employee who had moved to Markforged had taken confidential information and used it to develop competing technologies. However, these allegations were also dismissed by the court.
Despite this, the rivalry between the two companies remained fierce. Both Markforged and Desktop Metal continued to develop their technologies and expand their patent portfolios to gain dominance in the metal 3D printing market.
This entire saga took a surprising turn in July 2024 when Desktop Metal announced a merger with Nano Dimension. Then, in September of the same year, Nano Dimension announced its acquisition of Markforged. However, despite six months passing since the last event, this acquisition has not been formalized, and Desktop Metal and Nano Dimension are now engaged in yet another legal dispute over the matter.
Source: www.fabbaloo.com
GET FREE HISTORY BOOK: ‘2012 in AM’
