By ZD-Net
The Pirate Bay, one of the world’s most infamous online piracy and file-sharing sites, is now hosting a type of mock-up file that allows your 3D printer to create physical objects.
ThePirateBay.org yesterday announced via its blog, first reported by GigaOM, that users can now search in a new category called “Physibles”.
Physibles, as the blog explains, are mock-up files that allow a 3D printer to create a physical object:
“We believe that the next step in copying will be made from digital form into physical form. It will be physical objects. Or, as we decided to call them: Physibles.
“Data objects that are able (and feasible) to become physical. We believe that things like three-dimensional printers, scanners and such are just the first step. We believe that in the nearby future, you will print your spare parts for your vehicles,” The Pirate Bay predicted in its post yesterday.
The site, well known due to accusations of it aiding and abetting copyright infringement, took a philanthropic approach to the announcement, saying that it would likely change the world in a matter of years.
“The benefit to society is huge. No more shipping huge amount of products around the world. No more shipping the broken products back. No more child labour. We’ll be able to print food for hungry people. We’ll be able to share not only a recipe, but the full meal,” the blog reads.
There are currently seven physible models hosted on The Pirate Bay, including a mock-up file for a pirate ship, a tabletop gaming model and a hot-rod model.
A wide range of 3D printers were shown off at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, including one from MakerBot Industries — the MakerBot Replicator — available for US$1749.