Justice sues to block rapid prototyping deal.(Brief Article)

The $45 million acquisition of DTM Corporation by industry leader 3D Systems Corporation would result in complete elimination of competition between them in the market for industrial rapid prototyping systems in the U.S., says the Antitrust Division. This would leave only one other company with a meager 20% of the market to face the combined 80% market share of a 3D-DTM combination. To prevent this, and the higher prices, lower levels of innovation and service that come with significantly lessened competition, the Justice Dept. filed suit to block the deal in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C..

Rapid prototyping is a way to transform computer designs into …