Nick Johnson, the founder and lead developer of Ethereum Name Service (ENS), has taken a stand against blockchain domains company Unstoppable Domains over a recently awarded patent, threatening a lawsuit unless they drop it. In January, Unstoppable Domains was granted its first patent, US11558344, for a technology that uses blockchain to determine domains. However, Johnson claims that the patent is based entirely on innovations that ENS developed and contains no novel innovations of its own. The ENS documentation explains that it is a distributed, open, and extensible naming system based on the Ethereum blockchain, which maps human-readable names to machine-readable identifiers.
According to Johnson, all the work done by ENS is under open-source licenses, with all standards publicly available for implementation. He expressed frustration over the fact that Unstoppable Domains has not responded to attempts to contact them about the issue, prompting him to send an open letter as a last resort. In the letter, Johnson calls on Unstoppable Domains to put legal weight behind its PR commitment to pledge the patent to the Web3 Domain Alliance, as previously stated in a press release.
Unstoppable Domains responded by extending an open invitation to join the Web3 Domain Alliance, emphasizing the desire to have multiple naming systems instead of just ENS, and arguing that collaboration is essential for the future of blockchain domain systems.
The situation created a stir in the crypto community, with Bob Summerwill, executive director of the Ethereum Classic Cooperative (ETC Cooperative), expressing concern over Unstoppable Domains requiring organizations to join the Web3 Domain Alliance for rights over the technology, calling it a direct attack on the open-source ethos.
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The dispute has raised questions about the implications of patenting technology in the blockchain space, especially when it comes to open-source projects. While patents are designed to protect innovations and provide a competitive advantage, they can also stifle innovation and collaboration in open-source environments. The issue reflects broader debates about intellectual property and innovation within the blockchain and crypto space.
Johnson’s threat of legal action and Unstoppable Domains’ response indicate that the matter is far from resolved. As the blockchain domain industry continues to develop, this dispute could have far-reaching implications for the future of naming systems and blockchain technology.
It is important to note that this conflict is occurring in the context of the broader evolution of blockchain technology. The use of blockchain for domain naming and addressing has the potential to revolutionize internet infrastructure, making it more secure and decentralized. This potential is driving intense competition and innovation in the blockchain domain industry, contributing to the high stakes involved in disputes such as the one between ENS and Unstoppable Domains.
As the industry continues to mature, finding a balance between protecting intellectual property and fostering an open and collaborative environment will be crucial. The outcome of this dispute could serve as a precedent for how disputes over patents and intellectual property are handled within the blockchain and crypto space, potentially shaping the future direction of innovation and collaboration within the industry.
