A huge ns 3D success.

The entire episode, which lasted barely more than a month, is a fine example of the potential complexities involved in the burgeoning realm of 3D printing. In this case, consumers were eager to buy a product one n had created that happened to be physically printed and offered for sale by a separate company -- all of whom were then affected by the copyright owner bringing down the hammer.

This 3D-printed figure of Cloud, the main character in the classic role-playing game Final Fantasy VII, was selling like hotcakes on the Shapeways marketplace -- till a takedown notice arrived.

And last year, OverClocked ReMix, an online group that produces remix soundtrack albums of Final Fantasy games, had to restart its entire nonprofit Kickstarter campaign after having already surpassed its funding goal -- specifically because those who pledged $50 or more received a CD as a thank-you. Only after working extensively with Square Enix to iron out legal disputes was the project given the green light.

Baldwin hasnt considered reaching out to Square Enix about a possible partnership. Itd be cool, but them being such a big company, I dont think it would work out. Im not a businessman in that sense -- just a n, he said. I use Shapeways because that way I dont deal with sales, receipts, and all of that stuff. I just design something and make it available and dont have to worry about it anymore.

A longtime gamer and computer-graphics professional by trade, Baldwin began experimenting with extraction tools Biturn and Unmass, which he used to pull files directly from the 1998 PC port of FFVII. That allowed him to create the true-to-game renderings of the characters and then tweak them through multiple iterations to get the perfect printed result.

In the weeks the figurines were available for purchase through Shapeways, Baldwin sold a healthy amount, though he declined to talk specific numbers. That of course meant Baldwin was a profit on products based on someone elses designs and covered by a companys copyrights. Baldwin says, however, that the amount of effort put in to perfecting the physical models, which required heavy prototyping and hours of CG work, was the reason for any markup in the first place.

With any new technology thats democratizing access Print chop How copyright killed a 3D-printed Final Fantasy d Webto a tool, infringement is possible, but what were enabling at Shapeways is a community in which original innovation triumphs.

Standard procedure, Baldwin told me in an e-mail, just like a video in YouTube using copyrighted music can be pulled down. It all happened very st, he said. I only made that whole set recently, and I posted the full new set of secondary characters two days ago, when I guess I exploded the Internet. (For full disclosure, I purchased the Cloud figure pictured above before Baldwin was forced to close shop.)

Though the hubbub over his creations may prove to be but a footnote in the ultimate history of the legal ramifications of 3D printing and the Maker revolution, Baldwin remains pleased with the products that exploded the Internet. A complete set of the figures currently sits in his office window, staring at me while I work every day, he said.

A screenshot of the original Final Fantasy VII, released in 1998 for the first PlayStation. Baldwin created his 3D-printed figures using these crude character models for nostalgic effect.

As a final touch, he opted for a block of colored sandstone to create the master figure for each low-poly -- or graphically low-quality -- figurine of the entire games cast of characters -- matching how they all looked on the original PlayStation 15 years ago (which, for the record, was terrible by modern gaming standards). The style resounded wondrously with ns, who have long had to settle for Squares more realistic-looking and expensive plastic versions.

-- Joaquin Baldwin

Years ago I had made just a Cloud figure,Web but that wasnt that popular, it was there without getting much attention,new york asian escort model Baldwin told me. It was a model I made on my own, without ripping any video game assets or anything -- so it wasnt quite as precise as these guys in the new set.

FFVII developer Square Enix is well known for its staunch position on copyright violations and often sends takedowns to even its most loyal ns. After all, its created a robust ecosystem around Final Fantasy, arguably one of the best-known role-playing franchises in gaming history. This ecosystem includes four spinoff games, bridging multiple platforms; several releases and rereleases of original animated films; and a series of short stories. And Square Enix also makes its own high-end action figures, along with plush toys and other memorabilia, from cell phone cases to clothing. Suffice it to say, the company has more than just a 15-year-old PlayStation game to protect when it comes to intellectual-property concerns.

But all good things must come to end because of copyright laws (as the saying goes). On Wednesday, the developer of FFVII -- Japan-based games publisher Square Enix (known simply as Square at the time of the games 1998 release) -- caught on and sent a takedown notice to Shapeways. Shapeways in turn immediately scrubbed the products from Baldwins profile and Baldwin began offering refunds to buyers whose orders were still in the 3D-printer queue.

When die-hard ns of classic role-playing game Final Fantasy VII stampeded to Shapeways -- the marketplace for user-designed 3D-printed objects -- it was because digital artist Joaquin Baldwin was offering high-quality figures of the games most beloved characters.

In addition to this latest dustup, Square Enix has recently been headlines over its Kickstarter crackdowns. Earlier this month, it nixed a Kickstarter campaign for a Web series based on FFVII, which had amassed more than $25,000 in funding.

Final Fantasy VII figurines designed by a n and 3D-printed by marketplace Shapeways enthralled FFVII freaks everywhere. So much so that copyright owner Square Enix nixed the operation.

Defending the Final Fantasy empire

-- Figure creator Joaquin Baldwin Though copyright laws and 3D printing have certainly butted heads before, the dropping costs of printing, and the number of artists eager to use the method as a medium for both original and borrowed creations, will undoubtedly continue to force the issue.

Apples annual iPhone event is revealed by All Things D. Are you ready for an all gold iPhone? Plus, a peek at every iPhone 5S part you can think of..

I posted the full new set of secondary characters two days ago, when I guess I exploded the Internet.

I did all I could to reduce the cost, Baldwin said. I spent hours the models hollow to cut on the volume, and I reduced the markup to almost nothing on big figures like Barret, just so that people could get the whole set a bit more easily.

As for Shapeways take on the impending legal ramifications of 3D printing, the company declined to speak specifically on the matter Webof Square Enixs takedown. But CEO and co-founder Peter Weijmarshausen did provide a statement, saying, We ask that our community respects the rights of other designers. In order to comply with the DMCA and protect intellectual-property-right owners, we follow a strict takedown process as explained in our Content policy.

A set of Final Fantasy VII figures on display in front of Baldwins window. Im very proud of them, its something I always wanted, he says.

Baldwin was selling his figurines for anywhere from $14 to $30, with the prices varying depending on the figures size. One especially large figure -- a deity on horseback -- went for $60, but it was made more as a test and no one actually purchased it in the two days it was offered for sale.

Ive contacted Square Enixs North American office regarding the Shapeways dispute and where it fits among the companys previous copyright battles. Ill update this story in the event the company replies.

The massive interest was generated initially through Reddit and then by tech and geek-culture blogs that picked up the story and called the figures ntastic and perfect.

Hes currently contemplating what to do with the computer models, and even appealed to the Reddit community for info on whether he could post the models online without evoking further legal action from Square Enix -- something he said hes intent on being respectful of from here on out.

Printed with Shapeways $60,000 Z-Corp color printer, Baldwins creations -- which he does predominantly with 3D-graphics software Maya -- took a significant jump, from hobbyist toy to full-blown consumer-grade product.

Made with a Z-Corp 3D printer, this Cloud figure from RPG classic Final Fantasy VII was being sold for $18 on Shapeways.

Im very proud of them, its something I always wanted, but Im sad that a lot of people got excited about them and wont be able to get one of their own.

Why FFVII of all titles? It was a groundbreaking game, and it had a lot of influence on me while growing up, Baldwin said. It is the most memorable game Ive ever played. A lot of ns probably feel that same way. Theres just an air of nostalgia that we all feel when hearing the music or seeing the original characters.

Because Dutch-founded and New York-based Shapeways not only hosts 3D-printed objects for sale but also enables creators to use its printers to produce them, the company adamantly complies with such takedown requests.

Nick StattNick Statt is a staff writer for CNET. He previously wrote for ReadWrite and was a news associate at the social magazine app Flipboard. He spends a questionable amount of his free time contemplating his relationship with video games while continuously exploring the convergence of tech, science and pop culture.

It is the most memorable game Ive ever played. A lot of ns probably feel that same way.

The full lineup of available Final Fantasy VII figures on Shapeways before copyright holder Square Enix sent a takedown notice Wednesday to prevent further sales.

.