{"id":31235,"date":"2018-11-13T06:44:53","date_gmt":"2018-11-13T11:44:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\/"},"modified":"2018-11-13T06:44:53","modified_gmt":"2018-11-13T11:44:53","slug":"dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\/","title":{"rendered":"Dangerous Innovation \u2013 Defense Distributed and the Democratization of Weapons Manufacturing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Download.\u00a0 Print.\u00a0 Load.\u00a0 Fire.\u00a0 <\/em>Should it be this easy to obtain a functioning firearm?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Defense Distributed, a Texas-based non-profit dedicated to \u201cthe benefits of the American rifleman\u201d[1]<\/a>, thinks so.\u00a0 Founded in 2012 by Chris Wilson, then a law student at the University of Texas, Defense Distributed topped headlines in 2013 when it publicly released the designs for an operational 3D-printable pistol dubbed \u201cthe Liberator\u201d. \u00a0A lawsuit filed by the US State Department forced the designs to be taken down two days later, but not before over 100,000 downloads irrevocably distributed it across the internet.[2]<\/a>\u00a0 To many, Defense Distributed (and Wilson specifically) was wildly irresponsible and dangerous.[3]<\/a> Others saw Defense\u00a0Distributed as a noble protector of civil liberties in America.\u00a0 In either case, it highlighted that new innovations were leading society towards uncharted territory.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Defense Distributed\u2019s organizational objectives differ from those of a corporation, but several aspects of additive manufacturing that appeal to profit-seeking firms also influenced Defense Distributed\u2019s choices.\u00a0 Fundamentally, additive manufacturing provides the ability to quickly iterate on product design, enabling a single machine to produce a wide array of products with minimal switching costs.\u00a0 Meanwhile, by eliminating the need for manufacturing facilities and assembly lines, it dramatically lowers the capital expenditures required, which in turn makes it feasible to have machines geographically dispersed.\u00a0 These attributes often lead to additive manufacturing being utilized for rapid prototyping, personalized products, or on-site production.[4]<\/a>\u00a0 In Defense Distributed\u2019s case, it enables users to inexpensively produce firearms of varying designs at a location of their choosing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Simultaneous with the development of the \u201cLiberator\u201d, Defense Distributed had established an opensource database of weapons designs called DEFCAD.[5]<\/a>\u00a0 Thus, they leveraged the power of open innovation as a multiplier to additive manufacturing.\u00a0 Ongoing legal issues have remained an issue, though a settlement this summer nearly re-authorized design releases.\u00a0 Defense\u00a0Distributed also expanded to computer numerical control (CNC) machining and sells the \u201cGhost Gunner 2\u201d which produces the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.[6]<\/a>\u00a0 CNC machining is similar to 3D printing in that an individual unit is produced based on an input design, though it is a subtractive rather than additive method.\u00a0 Defense Distributed is able to continue selling the \u201cGhost Gunner 2\u201d despite the recent legal issues impacting other aspects of its business.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It is an interesting, if perhaps uncomfortable, thought experiment to consider \u201cWhat should the management of Defense Distributed do to capitalize on additive manufacturing in the future?\u201d.\u00a0 To a large extent, this will be dictated by the result of ongoing legal disputes. \u00a0Irrespective of that outcome, the more relevant question is what should be the reaction of society and government?\u00a0 On a micro level, that requires considering the implications of this individual case.\u00a0 Is it, for example, an infringement upon the free speech rights of Defense Distributed to block the distribution of designs on the internet as they and co-petitioners argue?[7]<\/a>\u00a0 And if there is some impingement of speech, might that be justified to prevent public harm?\u00a0 Interestingly, even President Trump opined this summer that public distribution of 3D-printed firearms \u201cdoesn\u2019t seem to make much sense\u201d.[8]<\/a><\/p>\n

More broadly, what other unforeseen consequences might emerge from the proliferation of additive manufacturing? \u00a0Are there risks to intellectual property protections or to public safety?\u00a0 Do we need new regulatory structures to account for cross-border transfers? \u00a0Falling prices will enable more individuals to have the ability to produce an ever-wider array of items.\u00a0 This dynamic could generate creativity and dynamism akin to what occurred in scholarship after the proliferation of the printing press.\u00a0 However, the proliferation of production makes regulation difficult and can lead to abuses. \u00a0Embracing innovation is good, but it is important that we do so thoughtfully and with awareness of potential risks.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(774 Words)<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> \u00a0“About Us”<\/a>. Defense Distributed. <\/em>Retrieved\u00a0November 12, 2018.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Greenberg, Andy.\u00a0“3D-Printed Gun’s Blueprints Downloaded 100,000 Times In Two Days”<\/a>.\u00a0Forbes<\/em>. Retrieved\u00a012 November\u00a02018.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Beckhusen, Robert. \u201c15 Most Dangerous People in the World\u201d<\/a>. Wired<\/em>. Retrieved 12 November 2018.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> D. Spaeth. 3D printing is changing the face of multiple industries. ECN: Electronic Component News 61, no. 9 (October 2017): 21\u201323.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Limer, Eric (December 21, 2012).\u00a0“There’s a New Site Just for 3D-Printed Gun Designs”<\/a>.\u00a0Gizmodo<\/em>. Retrieved\u00a012 November 2018.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Greenberg, Andy. \u201cThe $1200 Machine That Lets Anyone Make a Metal Gun at Home\u201d<\/a>. Wired<\/em>. Retrieved 12 November 2018.<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> Brief for the CATO Institute as Amicus Curiae<\/a>, p. 14, Defense Distributed v. U.S. Department of State, (2017).<\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> Trump, D. [realDonaldTrump]. (2018, July 31). I am looking into 3-D plastic guns being sold to the public.\u00a0 Already spoke to the NRA, doesn\u2019t seem to make much sense!<\/a> [Tweet]. Retrieved 12 November 2018<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Additive manufacturing shows tremendous potential for commercial and humanitarian applications, but it also presents ethical questions and the potential for unintended consequences.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11808,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[4102,3340],"class_list":["post-31235","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","hentry","category-3dprinting","category-additive-manufacturing"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/assignment\/rc-tom-challenge-2018\/","yoast_head":"\nDangerous Innovation \u2013 Defense Distributed and the Democratization of Weapons Manufacturing - Technology and Operations Management<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dangerous Innovation \u2013 Defense Distributed and the Democratization of Weapons Manufacturing - Technology and Operations Management\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Additive manufacturing shows tremendous potential for commercial and humanitarian applications, but it also presents ethical questions and the potential for unintended consequences.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Technology and Operations Management\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/11\/images-4.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\\\/\",\"name\":\"Dangerous Innovation \u2013 Defense Distributed and the Democratization of Weapons Manufacturing - Technology and Operations Management\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2018\\\/11\\\/images-4.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-11-13T11:44:53+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2018\\\/11\\\/images-4.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2018\\\/11\\\/images-4.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Submissions\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Dangerous Innovation \u2013 Defense Distributed and the Democratization of Weapons Manufacturing\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/\",\"name\":\"Technology and Operations Management\",\"description\":\"MBA Student Perspectives\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"性视界Action\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Dangerous Innovation \u2013 Defense Distributed and the Democratization of Weapons Manufacturing - Technology and Operations Management","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Dangerous Innovation \u2013 Defense Distributed and the Democratization of Weapons Manufacturing - Technology and Operations Management","og_description":"Additive manufacturing shows tremendous potential for commercial and humanitarian applications, but it also presents ethical questions and the potential for unintended consequences.\u00a0","og_url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\/","og_site_name":"Technology and Operations Management","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/11\/images-4.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\/","url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\/","name":"Dangerous Innovation \u2013 Defense Distributed and the Democratization of Weapons Manufacturing - Technology and Operations Management","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/11\/images-4.jpg","datePublished":"2018-11-13T11:44:53+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/11\/images-4.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/11\/images-4.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/dangerous-innovation-defense-distributed-and-the-democratization-of-weapons-manufacturing\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Submissions","item":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Dangerous Innovation \u2013 Defense Distributed and the Democratization of Weapons Manufacturing"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/#website","url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/","name":"Technology and Operations Management","description":"MBA Student Perspectives","potentialAction":[{"@type":"性视界Action","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hck-submission\/31235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hck-submission"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/hck-submission"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11808"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31235"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hck-submission\/31235\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}