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 ENS, UD obtained a patent for technology developed by ENS Labs, which was originally created as open-source. ENS is petitioning to challenge the validity of the patent in order to ensure that the web remains a collaborative space. UD’s registered patent is named “Resolving Blockchain Domains,” and ENS accuses UD of “theft” for patenting technology that directly leveraged ENS’s innovations.
Encluded in ENS’s posts on social media, they mentioned that their contributions were actually acknowledged in Unstoppable Domains’ patent application. Despite this acknowledgment, ENS believes that UD’s patent poses a threat to the unrestricted nature of ENS. The posts from ENS state that the initial rejection of the patent by the USPTO cited prior art that included work outside of ENS’s contributions. ENS believes that the UD patent threatens the decentralization and public benefit that ENS thrives on, and they are taking a legal stance to protect core web functions from being fenced by patents.
ENS attempted to address the issue with UD by sending letters to them, but according to the posts, UD rejected the requests and refused to cooperate. ENS claims that they gave UD every opportunity to avoid legal battles, but UD refused to open source the patent and make any irrevocable pledges not to use the patent to the detriment of the community. This refusal led to ENS’s decision to petition the USPTO to challenge the validity of the patent. ENS is committed to protecting the unrestricted nature of ENS and the open-source principles that they believe in.
In addition to the specific patent in question, ENS has expressed concerns about UD’s overall approach to patenting technology in the blockchain space. They believe that UD’s pursuit of patents represents a departure from the communal ethos of web3 and the open internet. ENS is worried that UD’s move towards privatization contradicts the foundational principles of public accessibility and transparency that are crucial in the blockchain space. ENS also mentioned that UD has submitted applications for patents related to other basic technologies, further emphasizing their concern about the potential impact of UD’s patent filings on the blockchain community.
Overall, ENS’s petition to challenge UD’s blockchain naming patent is driven by their commitment to preserving the collaborative and open-source nature of the web. They are taking a legal stance to protect core web functions from being restricted by patents and to ensure that the blockchain community remains inclusive and transparent. By challenging the validity of UD’s patent and addressing concerns about their approach to patenting technology, ENS is advocating for a more open and decentralized future for the blockchain ecosystem.
