The Target store is interesting but what happens if other store owners start to step on the toes of the Target store or Vise Versa? Is Target going to submit take-down requests for designs that are similar to theirs in other stores? Is Target making any claims for IP protection on their designs? https://www.shapeways.com/shops/Target For example, while not exactly the same there are similarities between one of my ornaments from last year and one of theirs. Not similar enough to cause problems, I suppose, but over time I can see similarities popping up from time to time - either intentionally or accidentally. In this case the concept is to have the year hanging within the ornament. http://shpws.me/wntR http://shpws.me/wnv9 Are the cost to produce prices that Target is paying the same as for everyone else? I'd also add that some typical charms in the store (like anchor charms) can probably be sourced at Hobby Lobby for a fraction of the price, but that's between Target and Hobby Lobby suppliers...
Does it matter for the IP/copyright discussion if their products are available at shapeways, or only at the target stores and website ? The real problem could be direct competition from a major brand among the shapeways shops, a competitor who might even sell at or below printing cost just for the marketing effect - on the other hand I am not sure if people looking for novelties on shapeways would end up buying from target. (And it is interesting that they, too, offer some models (the anchor charms you mentioned) for which 3d printing would appear to be neither competitive nor technically avantageous - might be something about completeness of their product line.)
I'm surprised they would jump in here as opposed to making an outside agreement with a printer company and keeping everything under the Target umbrella. Maybe they are just testing the waters for market research. I wasn't going to do a new ornament for 2014 because of the price increases, but what the heck, I'll undercut Target pricing with a revised design. I'm guaranteeing a $1.04 mark-up for this lovely ornament because my overhead is low, low, low! http://shpws.me/wWm6
I was wondering why they are doing so many simple things like letters and numbers that anyone can do. And then I noticed that they are also driving business to their website to purchase chains and items that would complement the Shapeways purchase. So that kind of makes sense. I don't think they are doing any earrings yet. Oh to have the resources of a corporation where you can fund a small team of people full time to design and code a bazillion designs. And to make sure tags are on all of the designs!
I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that Target may be working with some established designers to leverage older designs for their store. That also makes some sense since it would get more popular classes of "proven" items out there. http://shpws.me/opCw The similarities seem too close to be pure chance. On the other hand it might be hard to find a linkage to anyone else's version of Wyoming! http://shpws.me/wGC4