Ethereum Name Service Challenges Unstoppable Domains Patent

Ethereum Name Service (ENS) has filed a complaint with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) challenging the validity of a patent granted by Unstoppable Domains (UD) in 2023. ENS claims that UD's patents utilize technology developed and open sourced by ENS.

ENS said in a statement on social media platform

ENS Update 🧵: In 2023, Unstoppable Domains (UD) patented technology developed as open source by ENS Labs. Today, we challenged the validity of that patent and petitioned the USPTO to ensure the web remains a collaborative space. The reasons and problems are as follows. pic.twitter.com/Qxls0kkP6G

— ens.eth (@ensdomains) May 2, 2024

Both ENS and UD offer domain names and wallet services using top-level domains (TLDs) such as .crypto, .eth, and similar brand names that form an affinity with the crypto space. Masu. ENS claims that UD has patented “his pioneering ENS technology that directly leverages open source innovation” and that ENS' contributions are also cited in the patent.

“We gave UD every opportunity to avoid this fight. UD refused to open source the patents and also refused to make irrevocable commitments not to use the patents to the detriment of the community.” said ENS.

In response to the petition, Unstoppable Domains founder Matthew Gould said in X that the patent had been examined by an examiner with a citation to ENS.gould claimed It states that the patent is valid and that “patent filings are very common in both the Web3 and domain industries.”

In this regard, ENS lead developer Nick Johnson asked Gould to list key innovations in UD's patents that were not yet part of ENS.

Perhaps Matt, summarize for everyone on Twitter who doesn't have time to read the entire patent. What important innovations are covered by your patent that were not part of ENS?

— Nick S (@nicksdjohnson) May 2, 2024

As of this writing, Gould has not yet responded to Johnson's questions, and Johnson posted that he did not have a response. two cricket emojis.

In his initial response to the ENS thread, Gould claimed that Unstoppable Domains has several other patents pending and will continue to do so to “protect” the company. Gould also noted that his company entered into a no-claims agreement more than a year ago, and believes the issue is resolved.

In July 2022, Unstoppable Domains raised $65 million in a Series A round led by Pantera Capital, valuing the company at $1 billion unicorn status. ENS, on the other hand, operates based on a set of decentralized smart contracts for open and public infrastructure.