In one example, a computer implemented system manages digital rights pertaining to the 3D printing of a 3D digital model or object. The system includes a database of 3D printing service providers and a computing device that implements a 3D printing platform in a federated network of 3D printing service providers. The platform comprises units that act cooperatively to publish a pre-authorization for printing the 3D digital model or object granted by an owner of digital rights associated with the 3D digital model or object, receive a request for a 3D printing task, the request including a selection of the pre-authorized 3D digital model or object, and rank the plurality of 3D printing service providers based on a 3D printing identifier metric. An independent selection of a preferred 3D printing service provider is received, and printing instructions are transmitted to a 3D printer service provider.