[hauke]

I have little experience with 3D scanning but from what I understand you still have quite a bit of cleaning up to do before the scanned 3D model can be used for printing. Also you would have to scan in each joint and each limb of an action figure as a separate piece if you want to replicate the functionality. And then there is the whole issue of coloring the printed model as well. All things considered I think toy companies have not to worry about 3D scanners anytime soon. With mp3s and DVDs you already have a digital file to start with and all you have to do is transfer it to a new format. While with an action figure you have a physical object that needs to be turned into a digital file and then back again into a physical object. That process is a lot more complicated.