ENS has challenged the United States Patent and Trademark Office to challenge a blockchain naming patent held by Unstoppable Domains (UD). UD obtained a patent for technology developed by ENS Labs, which was originally open-source. ENS accused UD of “theft” for patenting technology that was developed using their innovations. The company stated that their contributions were acknowledged in UD’s patent application, and that the USPTO’s initial rejection cited prior art outside of ENS’s contributions. ENS believes that UD’s patent threatens the decentralization and public benefit that ENS values, and sent letters to UD addressing the issue, but UD rejected the requests and refused to cooperate.
UD’s pursuit of a patent is seen as a departure from the communal ethos of web3 and the open internet. ENS expressed concern that UD’s move towards privatization contradicted the foundational principles of public accessibility and transparency. The company also noted that UD has submitted applications for patents on other basic technologies, including accessing data on a blockchain, cross-chain app access, and data resolution using domains. ENS believes that privatizing these technologies goes against the spirit of a free and open internet, and is calling for the community to be aware of UD’s actions.
ENS believes that core web functions must remain free for all and not fenced off by patents. The company sees UD’s patent as a threat to the values of decentralization and public benefit that ENS stands for. Despite efforts to address the issue with UD, including requests to open source the patent and make irrevocable pledges not to use it to the detriment of the community, UD refused to cooperate. ENS has now petitioned the USPTO to challenge the validity of UD’s patent and ensure that the web remains a collaborative space where innovation can thrive.
The challenge between ENS and UD highlights the ongoing tension between the ideals of a decentralized, communal internet and the proprietary interests of individual companies. ENS believes that UD’s actions threaten the openness and accessibility of the internet, and are working to push back against these efforts through legal means. The outcome of this challenge will have implications for the future of blockchain naming patents and the values that underpin web3 technologies, as stakeholders continue to navigate the balance between innovation and protection of intellectual property rights.
In challenging UD’s blockchain naming patent, ENS is taking a stand for the principles of decentralization and public benefit that the company was founded on. By petitioning the USPTO to challenge the validity of UD’s patent, ENS is seeking to ensure that core web functions remain free for all and not subject to restrictions imposed by patents. The outcome of this challenge will have far-reaching implications for the future of blockchain technologies and the values that underpin a free and open internet. ENS is calling for the community to be aware of UD’s actions and to support efforts to maintain a collaborative space for innovation and development in the blockchain naming space.
