Ethereum Community Opposes Matter Labs’ ZK Trademark Attempts

Ethereum’s layer-2 solution Linea has urged Matter Labs to withdraw its trademark attempts for “ZK,” arguing that such actions contradict the principles of Ethereum. Linea, backed by Consensys, is a zkEVM layer-2 solution, while Matter Labs is behind the layer-2 solution known as zkSync.

In a recent social media post on May 31, Linea highlighted that using legal frameworks to claim ownership over a branch of cryptography is against Ethereum’s ethos. The firm called on Matter Labs to “uphold their mission and withdraw their trademark attempts.”

Using legal frameworks to assert ownership over a branch of cryptography goes against the principles of Ethereum.

Matter Labs has filed trademarks for “ZK” as its exclusive intellectual property. Zero-Knowledge (commonly referred to as zk) is a cryptographic field developed by researchers globally. Linea and other industry leaders, including StarkWare, are opposing this move.

Top crypto executives such as Polygon co-founders Sandeep Nailwal and Brendan Farmer, StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson, and Polyhedra Network co-founder Tiancheng Xie have also voiced their opposition. Linea emphasized its support for StarkWare, which is also calling for the withdrawal of the trademark application.

The controversy started when Matter Labs filed trademarks for “ZK,” aiming to establish exclusive intellectual property rights. This move was criticized, especially since the ticker was already in use by Polyhedra Network for its token. In response, Polyhedra Network changed its ticker to “ZKJ” and criticized Matter Labs’ actions.

Great job as a robber and a thief, not a blockchain builder.

The backlash from the Ethereum community suggests that such legal maneuvers could hinder innovation and collaboration in the field of Zero-Knowledge cryptography. Critics argue that the trademark could limit the open and cooperative environment that has driven Ethereum’s success.

In response to the criticism, Matter Labs explained in a social media post that the trademark applications were intended to ensure that the term “ZK” can be used freely in the context of “ZK Sync,” “ZK Stack,” and other related names. They stated that trademarks are currently the only legal tool available to protect such terms.

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