Community outcry prompts reconsideration of trademark plans
Matter Labs, the team responsible for developing zkSync, Ethereum’s layer-2 scaling solution, has made the decision to abandon its attempt to trademark the term “ZK,” which stands for “zero knowledge” proofs. This decision was made in response to criticism from senior ZK researchers who argued that ZK innovations should be a public good accessible to all.
In a public letter, advocates for ZK technology expressed their belief that it should remain a public good rather than being trademarked by a corporation. They argued that using the legal system to claim ownership of a public good would go against the principles of the cryptocurrency sector. The letter was signed by seven individuals, including the creators of ZK-proofs and prominent figures in the industry.
Matter Labs initially applied for the trademarks to protect the use of “ZK” in conjunction with the company’s products and services. However, they clarified that having a trademark does not mean owning the word or phrase in general, but rather having rights to its specific use.
The issue over the trademark application arose at a critical time for zkSync, as it was preparing for an airdrop scheduled for mid-June. zkSync is a popular Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain that utilizes ZK-proof technology. It differs from other networks like Optimism, Arbitrum, or Blast, which employ the optimistic rollup strategy.
Additionally, Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, announced that it would be integrated into the zkSync ecosystem. This integration aims to improve liquidity and usability within zkSync, resulting in increased efficiency and reduced costs.
In related news, a former Coinbase global expansion lead recently joined Matter Labs as the company’s president.
