Nick Johnson, the pb developer of Ethereum Name Service (ENS), accused Unstoppable Domains of patenting its open-source innovation regarding “Resolving Blockchain Domain” successful a Nov. 16 unfastened missive posted connected societal media level X (formerly Twitter).
Johnson asserted that Unstoppable Domains’ patent was solely based connected ENS-developed innovations without immoderate unsocial contributions from the rival firm.
Unstoppable Domains ‘anti-open innovation’ activities
Johnson further explained however Unstoppable Domains’ patenting efforts contradict the principles of unfastened innovation, citing however the rival steadfast made a caller “application for reserving names akin to a ‘Sunrise Phase’ that has been communal to the Domain Name Service (DNS) satellite for galore years.”
On the different hand, ENS has refrained from patenting its innovations contempt being a leader successful the space, saying its works are “under open-source licenses” and “publicly disposable for anyone to implement.”
Johnson emphasized the request for Unstoppable Domains to perpetrate legally to donating its archetypal patent nether an “unconditional and irrevocable patent pledge,” saying, “Press releases are not legally binding.” Failure to bash this, Johnson warned that “ENS Labs stands acceptable to situation this patent, which we judge is wholly derivative of our inventions; a presumption we are capable and consenting to demonstrate.”
He concluded that the missive was indispensable to “emphasize the value of permissionless innovation and unfastened standards successful the web3 ecosystem and to petition [Unstoppable Domains] practice successful ensuring web3 naming continues to beryllium a spot for innovation.”
Unstoppable Domains responds
In response, Matthew Gould, the laminitis of Unstoppable Domains, highlighted his firm’s committedness to driving advancements successful web3 naming standards. He emphasized the captious relation of collaborative efforts and discussions successful navigating the industry’s evolving landscape.
Meanwhile, Johnson projected that Unstoppable Domains should widen the openness of their patent licensing beyond ENS, citing models specified arsenic patent non-aggression pacts utilized by companies similar IBM.
However, Gould broadened the scope of the discussion, pointing retired the broader manufacture implications, noting that the absorption connected Unstoppable Domains could easy displacement to patents oregon trademarks from companies successful antithetic regions later.
Gould reiterated the necessity for a proactive forum for discussion, inviting ENS to articulation the Web3 Domain Alliance to foster an situation conducive to unfastened dialog and collaboration successful shaping the aboriginal of web3 naming standards.
The station Ethereum Name Service decries Unstoppable Domains patent arsenic a menace to open-source ethos appeared archetypal connected CryptoSlate.