Prusa releases CORE One CAD files under the new Open Community License (OCL)
The new license aims to fill gaps in traditional open-source models when applied to physical hardware, offering clearer protections for makers and businesses
Prusa Research has made the complete CAD files for its CORE One and CORE One L 3D printers available for download, modification, and reuse under a new license, the Open Community License (OCL). Unlike standard Creative Commons or GNU GPL licenses, the OCL was developed to address the specific legal and practical needs of open hardware projects.
The OCL allows users to download, inspect, and modify the STEP and Fusion files, as well as produce spare parts for personal or internal business use. However, without a separate agreement with the license holder, the OCL restricts the sale of complete machines or commercial remixes based on these files.
According to Prusa, the goal of the OCL is to create a simple and human-readable license that balances openness with protection. It grants hobbyists full freedom to modify and share derivatives while allowing businesses to adapt designs internally for their operations. The license also introduces several new legal tools, including an explicit patent license grant, protection against AI data mining, and a codified Right to Repair.
These additions aim to close gaps left by software-based licenses when applied to hardware. “We wanted a license that protects both the creators and the users, without pretending the legal challenges don’t exist,” the company states.
Addressing design theft and patent trolling
Prusa points to several cases of design misappropriation in the 3D printing community as motivation for the new license. One prominent example involves the creator Soozafone, known for his “Lucky 13” and “Dummy 13” printable figures. A third party in the United States copied and patented his designs, originally shared under a Creative Commons license. Prusa is funding legal efforts to invalidate the patent by demonstrating that the designs were publicly released before the patent application.
Josef Prusa added that the company wants to create a stronger legal framework for the community. “With OCL, we establish a standard foundation that asserts creators’ rights from day one.”
Open and protected innovation
Alongside releasing the CORE One files, Prusa is forming a network of companies and developers that support open collaboration while protecting against commercial exploitation. The company says it is open to cross-licensing its patented technologies with other organizations that share the same principles.
“The Open Community License strikes a balance many manufacturers have been looking for,” said Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit. “It keeps hardware open for tinkering, modification, and repair, while shielding it from opportunistic copycats.”
The CAD files for CORE One and CORE One L are now available on Printables, along with the full text of the Open Community License. Prusa encourages users to explore, test, and adopt the OCL for their own creations, calling it “a step toward keeping hardware open, sustainable, and fair.”
