Patent Controversy Unleashed
In a dramatic twist in the blockchain naming world, the founder and lead developer of Ethereum Name Service (ENS), Nick Johnson, has thrown down the gauntlet. He’s urged Unstoppable Domains to renounce a recently awarded patent or brace for a legal battle. The open letter, shared on X (formerly Twitter), has stirred quite the pot in the crypto community.
Unstoppable Domains’ Patent Claims
Back in January, Unstoppable Domains was granted a patent (US11558344) claiming they invented a technology that utilizes blockchain to determine domain names. The patent, attributed to inventors Braden River Pezeshki, Matthew Everett Gould, and Bogdan Gusiev, was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) back in 2021. But is it truly innovative? Johnson seems to think not.
ENS Says ‘Not So Fast’
According to Johnson, the patent is “based entirely on innovations that ENS developed and contains no novel innovations of its own.” He argues that the ENS is more than just a service; it’s a public good, mapping human-readable names like ‘alice.eth’ to machine-readable identifiers such as Ethereum addresses. The spirit of open-source underpins everything they do—so where’s the originality in Unstoppable Domains’ patent?
Deadlines and Dilemmas
In his passionate plea, Johnson points out that despite numerous attempts to discuss the issue with Unstoppable Domains, communication has fizzled out. He doesn’t mince words when he requests an “unconditional and irrevocable patent pledge,” following Unstoppable Domains’ press release promising their patent to the Web3 Domain Alliance, which, according to Johnson, doesn’t hold any legal water.
The Other Side Speaks
Unstoppable Domains’ CEO, Matthew Gould, fired back, asserting that their patent filings are strategic maneuvers meant to safeguard their operations against larger competitors. He firmly states, “Our pursuit of patent protection is in line with standard practices in the Web3 sector.” Gould emphasizes the uniqueness of their technology, which has been instrumental in their adoption of gasless transactions for the .crypto domain registry.
Conclusion: A Clash of Titans?
As the saga unfolds, both parties remain steadfast, each believing their stance is rooted in innovation and protection. Johnson’s advocacy for open-source practices versus Gould’s push for patent protection exemplifies a broader dilemma in the evolving landscape of blockchain technology. Will these two blockchain titans find common ground, or will the courtroom be their next arena?
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