ENS Petition Divides Community over Unstoppable Domains Patent
2 min read
ENS Petition Divides Community over Unstoppable Domains Patent
The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) has officially challenged a patent granted to Unstoppable Domains (UD) in January 2023, sparking differing opinions within the crypto community. ENS petitioned the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on May 2 to challenge the validity of the UD patent, claiming that it is an attempt to protect the collaborative nature of the web. ENS believes that UD has patented technology that ENS pioneered, and they argue that this is a form of theft. They are determined to fight this to ensure that ENS remains accessible to all and unrestricted.
ENS emphasizes their commitment to decentralization and public benefit. They fear that the UD patent threatens their core vision and beliefs, particularly the idea that core web functions should be free from patents. Some members of the crypto community support ENS in their challenge against UD, while others have voiced their disagreement. Adam Cochran from Cinneamhain Ventures believes that the UD patent is not valid and that blockchain names, designed by ENS, should remain a perpetual public good and open intellectual property.
DeFi Education Fund, an organization that supports decentralized finance (DeFi), also expressed their support for ENS, stating that they align with ENS’s advocacy for open-source protocols. There are critics within the community who accuse ENS of attacking UD and inciting others not to work with them. These critics also claim that ENS imposes high fees on investors. Another argument against ENS is that patents are granted through due process and should be respected.
Unstoppable Domains founder Matthew Gould responded to ENS’s challenge on X, noting that ENS was cited along with other blockchain domain systems in the patent and that it had undergone review. Gould maintains that the patent is valid. ENS founder Nick Johnson, in response, challenged Gould to highlight key innovations in the patent that were not already part of ENS. Gould did not provide further responses to ENS and Johnson. The debate between ENS and UD continues, with the crypto community divided on the issue.
ENS needs to stop being so petty and focus on their own project instead of attacking others. This is not a good look for them.
Let’s keep the debate respectful and focused on the merits of the arguments. It’s essential to find a resolution that protects the interests of all parties involved. 🤝💯
ENS’s attempt to challenge UD’s patent is nothing but a malicious act. They should focus on their own project instead of trying to tear down others.
It’s awesome to see DeFi Education Fund aligning with ENS and advocating for open-source protocols. Together, they can make a real impact in the crypto space.
ENS needs to get over themselves and stop acting like they own the entire crypto space. Patents exist for a reason, and UD has every right to protect their intellectual property.
It’s interesting to see Adam Cochran questioning the validity of the UD patent. I’m curious to learn more about the specific innovations ENS pioneered.
It’s disappointing to see ENS resorting to such tactics instead of promoting collaboration and unity within the crypto community.
Patents are granted through a due process, but if ENS feels that the UD patent threatens their core vision, it’s important for them to challenge it.