MakerWorld tends to enforce its rules with, let’s say, a creative interpretation. I’ve had multiple models removed for reasons that seemed… imaginative. I’ve been printing since STL was the only game in town, and I still keep the original CAD for my designs. Yet one model was taken down after another user claimed ownership; I submitted my source CAD, the appeal was denied, and that user kept collecting points. I’ve even seen my work reposted as “exclusive.”
These days I only publish designs that are fun or ultra-niche for my ultralight flying—things that might actually help other pilots. Meanwhile, the site is flooded with AI-generated files and “printable” models that clearly aren’t.
And yes, MakerWorld also uses AI for contest judging. We all remember that legendary first draw where only two of six “winners” had actually entered. You couldn’t script better satire.