The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) has taken legal action against Unstoppable Domains (UD), petitioning the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to invalidate a blockchain naming patent held by UD.
In a series of social media posts, ENS accused UD of patenting technology developed by ENS Labs, which the company claims directly leverages their open-source innovations.
ENS referred to UD’s registered patent as “Resolving Blockchain Domains” and characterized UD’s actions as theft rather than flattery. The company emphasized its commitment to ensuring that ENS remains unrestricted for all users.
Acknowledging that their contributions were cited in UD’s patent application, ENS highlighted the USPTO’s initial rejection of the patent, which cited prior art beyond ENS’s contributions.
Expressing concern over UD’s refusal to cooperate, despite attempts by ENS to address the issue through communication, ENS emphasized its belief in maintaining core web functions as free and accessible to all.
ENS criticized UD’s pursuit of patents as a departure from the communal ethos of web3 and the open internet, arguing that it contradicts foundational principles of public accessibility and transparency.
Furthermore, ENS revealed that UD has filed for at least nine other patents covering basic technologies related to blockchain data access and resolution, raising concerns within the community about privatization and potential detriment to public access.
