Anti-counterfeiting technology in 3D printing (quantum dots)

[Renegade]

This is interesting - anti-counterfeiting for 3D printing:

http://3dprint.com/7701/quantum-dots-3d-print/

...
The technology is based around a patented process which embeds tiny quantum dots into products during a 3D printing process, so that their manufacturers can detect counterfeits. The quantum dots are embedded in such a way that they create an unclonable signature of sorts. Only the manufacturers of the products which have these signatures embedded, know what they should be, making it easy for them to detect illegal copies. Such a security feature would work well within a variety of markets
...

It's almost like DRM for physical objects.

[Deozaan]

Who cares if you have the dots or not? I wouldn't mind an exact replica of something that was missing a few quantum dots.

[Stoic Joker]

Who cares if you have the dots or not? I wouldn't mind an exact replica of something that was missing a few quantum dots.

It depends on how it is enforced/who is checking, and how much if any customization of the item is allowed before the signature "degrades" enough to raise eyebrows.