Nick Johnson, the lead developer of Ethereum Name Service (ENS), accused Unstoppable Domains of patenting his open-source innovation related to “Resolving Blockchain Domain” in a November 16 open letter Posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Johnson claimed that the Unstoppable Domains patent was based solely on innovations developed by ENS without any unique contribution from the rival company.
Unstoppable Domains ‘anti-open innovation’ activities
Johnson further explained how Unstoppable Domains’ patent efforts contradict the principles of open innovation, mentioning how the rival company recently filed a “request to reserve names similar to a ‘Sunrise Phase’ that has been common in the Domain Name Service (DNS) world for years.”
On the other hand, ENS has refrained from patenting its innovations despite being a leader in the field, saying its works are “under open source licenses” and “publicly available for anyone to implement.”
Johnson emphasized the need for Unstoppable Domains to legally commit to donating its first patent under an “unconditional and irrevocable patent pledge,” saying: “Press releases are not legally binding.” When he failed to do so, Johnson warned that “ENS Labs stands ready to challenge this patent, which we believe is entirely derivative of our inventions; a position that we can and want to demonstrate.”
He concluded that the letter was necessary to “highlight the importance of permissionless innovation and open standards in the Web3 ecosystem and to request [Unstoppable Domains] working together to ensure that web3 naming continues to be a place for innovation.”
Unstoppable Domains responds
In response, Matthew Gould, the founder of Unstoppable Domains, emphasized his company’s commitment to advancing Web3 naming standards. He emphasized the crucial role of joint efforts and discussions in navigating the changing landscape of the industry.
Meanwhile, Johnson suggested that Unstoppable Domains should expand the openness of their patent licensing beyond ENS, citing models such as patent non-aggression pacts used by companies like IBM.
However, Gould broadened the scope of the discussion and pointed out the wider implications for the sector. noticing that the focus on Unstoppable Domains could easily later shift to patents or trademarks of companies in different regions.
Gould reiterated the need for a proactive forum for discussion and invited ENS to join the Web3 Domain Alliance to foster an environment conducive to open dialogue and collaboration in shaping the future of Web3 naming standards .