Everything You Need to Know About Our License Memberships
Anyone who wants to do more than just print 3D models for private use and instead sell physical printed products needs clear rules. That is exactly why our Commercial License memberships exist.
With our Commercial License, we create a clear, fair, and professional framework for everyone who works with our published 3D models and wants to sell them legally as printed physical products.
Our license applies exclusively to the models published by us and allows — depending on the selected license tier — the sale of physically printed products.
The license never allows the sale, transfer, sharing, or distribution of digital files such as STL, STEP, 3MF, OBJ, or comparable source files.
Which Models Does the Commercial License Apply To?
Our Commercial License applies to all 3D models that we have published on MakerWorld. If a model has been published by us on MakerWorld, it generally falls under our licensing rules and may — depending on your active license membership — be used for the sale of physically printed products.
The following are not covered:
- Third-party models from other designers
- Unauthorized uploads
- Redistributed files not published by us
- Digital reworks outside the scope of permitted use
- Files reconstructed or derived from our models without authorization
- Sharing within groups, teams, or non-approved production networks
What Is Permitted — and What Is Not?
Permitted:
- Printing our models using a 3D printer
- Selling physical finished printed products with a valid active license
- Use within the scope of the selected license tier
- Use only by the approved company or business profile
- Use only while the membership remains active
Not permitted:
- Selling STL, STEP, 3MF, OBJ, or other digital files
- Transferring files to third parties
- Sharing files in groups, cloud folders, or platforms
- Uploading our files to other websites or marketplaces
- Using our files across multiple companies under a single license
- Selling printed products without a valid active license
- Bypassing license limits through multiple accounts or business profiles
- Presenting our digital models as your own original creations
Only physically printed products may be sold — never the digital model files.
Why a Commercial License Is Necessary
There is a decisive difference between private use and commercial use. Printing a model for yourself or as a gift is completely different from selling products at markets, through online shops, through social media, or through any commercial channel.
As soon as a printed model is sold, it becomes commercial use — and that is exactly why a valid Commercial License is required.
Information Required After Purchasing a License
After completing a Commercial License membership, we require specific business and verification details before we can review, approve, and issue a valid license certificate.
Submissions through other channels may not be considered.
Review Process
After receiving all required information, a manual review takes place. The process typically takes 3 to 8 business days. A license approval is issued only after successful verification and is valid only for the approved company and sales structure.
We reserve the right not to issue a license if information is incomplete, if the selected tier does not match the actual business activity, or if the intended use does not align with our terms.
Important notes:
- Licenses are issued only after successful verification
- Each license is bound to one approved company or business profile
- Licenses cannot be transferred or reassigned
- Commercial use is only permitted after the license has been formally issued
Why Large-Scale Platforms Are Regulated Separately
Large-scale online platforms are not classic small craft marketplaces. They are designed for high reach, large sales volumes, strong scaling, and high visibility.
This creates a very different commercial use of our designs compared to a small craft shop, occasional handmade sales, or local flea market activity.
For this reason, the commercial studio license membership is required for this type of use. This keeps the license structure fair, transparent, and professional.
Monthly Revenue Limits and the Obligation to Upgrade
Revenue limits are a binding part of each license tier — not optional guidelines.
- Commercial basic is valid up to the revenue limit defined for this tier
- Commercial advanced is valid up to the revenue limit defined for this tier
- Once the commercial advanced limit is exceeded, commercial studio is required
- Large online platforms with high volume require commercial studio regardless of revenue level
If the permitted limit is exceeded, you must immediately switch to the appropriate higher tier. There is no grace period. Continuing to sell under an insufficient tier after exceeding the limit is a violation of the license terms.
The License Is Valid Only for One Company or One Business Profile
Each Commercial License is valid only for one company name or one specific sales profile.
A license may not be used for:
- Multiple companies
- Multiple legally separate businesses
- Different brands with different owners
- Multiple platform accounts under different companies
- External partner companies or affiliated shops
Each company or profile requires its own valid license.
Review Before Issuing the License Approval
Before issuing a license, we review:
- The stated company name and sales profile
- The intended type of use
- The selected license tier
- Whether all provided information is consistent and complete
Only after successful review is a license approval issued as a PDF.
License Approval as a PDF
After successful review, you will receive a license approval in PDF format. This serves as formal proof of your active license authorization.
This PDF may include:
- Company name and shop name where applicable
- Booked license tier
- Issue date and validity framework
- Reference to permitted use
- Reference to the active membership requirement
The PDF is a time-limited document — not a permanent certificate. It is valid only while the membership is active.
The License Is Only Valid While the Membership Is Active
Commercial use is only permitted while:
- The membership is active
- The license has not been revoked
- No violations of the license terms exist
Once a membership ends, the authorization for new commercial sales also ends. A past membership does not replace a current valid license.
Sales Are Allowed Only With a Valid License
The sale of our printed models is only permitted with a valid active license — regardless of whether files were previously downloaded, the model was modified or scaled, or sales quantities seem small.
The availability of a file does not replace a valid sales authorization.
Practical Examples
Example 1 — Private use:
Downloading and printing a model for personal use is not commercial. No license is required.
Example 2 — Local flea market:
Selling a few printed items at a local flea market may be covered by commercial basic, depending on scale and within the revenue limit.
Example 3 — Craft marketplace shop:
Commercial basic is not sufficient. At least commercial advanced is required.
Example 4 — Large online platform:
A lower tier is not sufficient. Commercial studio is required.
Example 5 — Revenue limit exceeded:
Once your current tier's limit is exceeded, you must immediately upgrade. Continuing under the lower tier is a violation.
Example 6 — Two companies:
A license for company A does not cover company B. Each needs its own license.
Example 7 — Sharing a file:
Sending an STL file to someone so they can sell products is not permitted under any tier.
Example 8 — Expired membership:
Once the membership ends, continued commercial sales are not permitted.
Why We Set These Rules So Clearly
Our models are created with considerable effort in concept development, design, modeling, optimization, test printing, and publication.
A clear license protects:
- Our work and our brand
- Fair commercial users
- Transparency for everyone involved
At the same time, it creates a professional framework for honest sellers.
Frequently Asked Questions
May I sell the printed models?
Yes — with a valid active license within the correct tier.May I sell digital files?
No. Selling or sharing digital files is not permitted.May I pass files to third parties?
No. Sharing or distributing digital files is not permitted.Does the license cover all your MakerWorld models?
Yes — all models published by us on MakerWorld.Is commercial basic sufficient for online marketplace shops?
No. Commercial basic is for local offline sales only.Which tier do I need for craft marketplace or small online shops?
At least commercial advanced.Which tier is required for large online platforms?
Commercial studio is required.Do tiers have revenue limits?
Yes. Each tier has a defined limit. Exceeding it requires an immediate upgrade.What happens if I exceed my limit?
You must upgrade immediately.Is the license permanently valid?
No — only while the membership is active.Do I receive proof of my license?
Yes — a PDF approval after successful review.Is every request approved automatically?
No — we review each request manually.Does one license cover multiple companies?
No — one license per company or profile.May I use multiple shops under one license?
Only if clearly under the same approved company.May I modify models and sell them?
Modifications do not transfer ownership. License terms still apply.What happens if my membership ends?
The authorization for commercial sales ends with it.May I use a print service provider?
Only with express written approval.Does the license apply to free models too?
Yes — free files remain our property. A free file does not automatically mean commercial permission.Why is a manual review required?
To ensure the license is granted correctly and matches the actual intended use.What happens if someone sells without a valid license?
We reserve the right to document the situation and enforce our rights through appropriate channels.What consequences may arise?
Practical and financial consequences depending on the scope of the individual case.Is a past legal download sufficient?
No — a current valid license is always required.Does the license apply after scaling or adjusting a model?
Yes — adjusted models remain subject to our license terms.May I sell under multiple brands with one license?
Only if all brands belong to the same approved company.- Why such clear rules?
To protect our work and ensure fairness for all honest commercial users.
Our Conclusion
Our Commercial License creates a clear and professional framework for everyone who wants to sell printed products based on our models legally and transparently.
Key points:
- Our license covers all models published by us on MakerWorld
- Only physically printed products may be sold — never digital files
- Selling requires a valid active license at all times
- One license is valid for one company or business profile only
- Commercial basic is for local offline sales only
- Commercial advanced is for smaller online shops and regular sales
- Commercial studio is required for large online platforms
- Revenue limits are binding — exceeding them requires an immediate upgrade
- Every license is reviewed before approval
- The license PDF is valid only while the membership is active
Anyone who wants to use our models professionally receives a clear, fair, and reliable foundation through our Commercial License.
Status of the blog post: 19/04/2026
