3D printing

3D printing is the creation of an 3D object by a printer programmed with digital files. Among other things, it is used as an art medium to craft figurines. Chris has taken an interest in the technology.

Websites

Thingiverse

Sometime prior to 22 November 2023, Chris stole files for his Sonichu Amiibos from there. Notably, it is a combination of two items, the figure itself, made by OrionRS and published on 25 September 2018 and the nonfunctional base, made by VirtualTurtle and published on 5 September 2015. Despite this, Chris proudly advertises them as his own work.

Cults3D

An account by the name of cwcvilleguardian (matching Chris's username for YouTube) joined Cults3D and downloaded files of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Transformers, and the Sonic Totem. cwcvilleguardian has also earned badges for downloading more than 50 files and purchasing 10 as of April 2024.

Plagiarism

On 15 January 2024, on the website Cults3D, cwcvilleguardian purchased a file of the Sonic Totem. The file had been created by user HiImDrue a year prior "as a joke" and listed for $0.62 (50p in HiImDrue's currency) with a "don't buy" disclaimer. Five days later, OfficialCWCmart began selling Sonic Totem figurines based on the file design for $35 each.

HiImDrue, also known on Reddit as druehmp, created a thread in r/ChrisChanSonichu to complain about Chris profiting off the Sonic Totem file. In comments, druehmp wrote about sending a complaint to OfficialCWCmart's host Etsy for not being credited, and sending a message to Chris to request being credited.