This is like a prelude to a SciFi weapons system an local to me

3D Printing
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1

This is like a prelude to a SciFi weapons system an local to me too!

3-D-Printed Drone Flies from U.K. Navy Ship to Explore Feasibility of Printing Small Autonomous Aircraft at Sea http://www.technologyreview.com//news/539586/british-navy-warship-tests-a-3-d-printed-drone-at-sea/ via DuckDuckGo
http://www.technologyreview.com//news/539586/british-navy-warship-tests-a-3-d-printed-drone-at-sea

2

Wouldn’t that infringe on Amazon’s patent for 3D Printing items during transit? It would be ironic if our armed forces had to pay royalites to Amazon each time they printed one of these.

3

How on Earth did they get that patent? For example if you imagine a spaceship will have the ability to make 3D prints as it travels through space then you could argue that every single factory on Earth is in transit traveling through space so that would invalidate the patent.

4

Agreed but Amazon have got in there first and were granted the patent.

This is a prime example of where the patent system needs overhauling to permit rejection of applications not only on existence of prior art but also on the grounds of obviousness and greater general benefit.