Valve allows makers to 3D print and sell their merchandise

Valve, the company behind the Dota, Half-life, Portal and Left 4 Dead series’, has partnered with Shapeways to allow fans to reproduce and sell merchandise and figures from their favourite games.

3D printing is a very disruptive technology. It is not the first of its kind to worry big corporations and affect their business models however, therefore large rights-holders have had a decade to learn from previous mistakes. Aggressively law-suiting infringers over music and movies on the internet didn’t work, it just created bad press. Therefore, this latest move from Valve suggests a strategy of collaboration rather than aggression, a willingness to work with fans instead of against them.

Under this agreement, makers and fans can design, print and sell Valve-related merchandise without fear of a takedown request. In addition, makers can product accessories or mods for Valve’s hardware within this agreement. Such hardware includes the Steam Controller, and the Steam Link.

Fan-made Half Life pendant

Of course this isn’t just Valve being charitable. There’s two clear motives: money and good PR. The first is because whenever a related product sells on Shapeways, Valve get 10% in royalties. The second is obvious, if you let your fans remake your products, they’ll love you for it. It is also worth noting that no royalties are deducted for modifications on Steam hardware.