ENS Takes Legal Action Against Unstoppable Domains’ Blockchain Naming Patent
Hongji Feng
Last updated:
May 3, 2024 06:02 EDT
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1 min read
Ethereum Name Service (ENS) has filed a petition with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to challenge a blockchain naming patent held by Unstoppable Domains (UD).
According to a series of social media posts by ENS, UD obtained a patent for a technology developed by ENS Labs, which is open-source. ENS has now officially petitioned to challenge the validity of the patent.
ENS has accused UD of “theft,” claiming that UD patented its technology by leveraging ENS’s open-source innovations. ENS stated, “This isn’t flattery — it’s theft. We have to fight this to ensure that ENS remains unrestricted for all.”
The posts also mentioned that ENS’s contributions were acknowledged in Unstoppable Domains’ patent application. ENS noted that the USPTO’s initial rejection of the patent cited prior art that included work outside of ENS’s contributions.
“ENS thrives on decentralization and public benefit, features we believe the UD patent threatens to distort or destroy,” the posts read. “Our legal position is rooted in our belief that core web functions must stay free for all, not fenced by patents.”
ENS sent letters to UD to address the issue, but according to the posts, UD rejected the requests and refused to cooperate.
“We gave UD every opportunity to avoid this battle: UD refused to open source the patent and refused to make any irrevocable pledges not to use the patent to the detriment of the community,” said ENS.
The posts also revealed that UD has pursued other patent filings, which ENS believes goes against the communal ethos of web3 and the open internet. ENS expressed concern that UD’s move towards privatization contradicts the principles of public accessibility and transparency.
According to ENS, UD has submitted applications for at least 9 other patents for basic technologies such as accessing data on a blockchain, cross-chain app access, and data resolution using domains.
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