Higher resolutions can be achieved by the use of a 3D printing service, such as Shapeways, who use Selective Laser Sintering rapid prototyping machines. Users can simply upload the designs, pick their materials and pay.
The reproduction of relatively expensive items, such as Games Workshop Warhammer figures does raise issues of copyright. Games Workshop have already issued DMCA takedown notices against Thingiverse, a site where users share designs.
According to the legal notices, Games Workshop do not mind customers scratch-building figures, as long as they do not sell them or substitute them for Games Workshop miniatures in official tournaments.
Above: The offending Dreadnaught model taken down by Thingiverse.