Linea, supported by Consensys, calls on Matter Labs to retract ZK trademark application.
Ethereum’s layer-2 solution, Linea, is urging Matter Labs to withdraw its trademark attempts for “ZK,” stating that it goes against the principles of Ethereum. Linea, a zkEVM layer-2 solution backed by Consensys, is calling on Matter Labs, the creator of zkSync, another layer-2 solution, to reconsider its trademark filing for “ZK,” which it plans to use as a ticker for its upcoming token.
In a post on May 31, Linea emphasized that using legal means to claim ownership over a specific branch of cryptography contradicts the principles of Ethereum. They are urging Matter Labs to uphold their mission and withdraw their trademark attempts.
Linea also expressed its support for StarkWare, which is also urging Matter Labs to withdraw its trademark application. Prominent figures in the crypto industry, including Sandeep Nailwal and Brendan Farmer from Polygon, Eli Ben-Sasson from StarkWare, and Tiancheng Xie from Polyhedra Network, have voiced their opposition to Matter Labs’ trademark filing.
The controversy arose when Matter Labs filed trademarks for “ZK,” seeking exclusive intellectual property rights, despite the ticker already being used by Polyhedra Network for its token. Polyhedra Network responded by changing its ticker to “ZKJ” and criticizing Matter Labs’ actions as those of a robber and thief, rather than a blockchain builder.
This move has sparked backlash within the Ethereum community, with critics arguing that it could hinder innovation and collaboration in the rapidly evolving field of Zero-Knowledge cryptography.
Matter Labs responded to the criticism in a post, stating that they applied for ZK-related trademarks to ensure that the term “ZK” can be freely used in the context of “ZK Sync,” “ZK Stack,” and other related names. They believe that trademarks are the only legal tool available for this purpose.
In other news, the former Coinbase global expansion lead has joined Matter Labs as president, further strengthening the team.
