Matter Labs Trademark Application Now Under Severe Criticism

Key Points:

• Crypto leaders criticize Matter Labs for trying to trademark “ZK,” calling it a threat to the community.
• Polyhedra Network will use the ticker “ZKJ” to promote an inclusive ZK community.
• Prominent argues that Matter Labs trademark applications should be withdrawn, emphasizing that ZK technology should remain a public good.

According to Cointelegraph, leaders from prominent zero-knowledge (ZK) projects, including StarkWare, Polygon, and Polyhedra Network, have denounced Matter Labs’ attempt to trademark the term “ZK,” branding it a threat to the wider crypto community.

Matter Labs Trademark Application Threatens ZK Technology

The creators of zkSync Matter Labs trademark applications have been filed in nine countries, aiming to claim “zero-knowledge” as their exclusive intellectual property, sparking widespread outrage in the industry.

Polyhedra Network, the developer behind the zkBridge protocol, announced it will use the ticker symbol “ZKJ” for its upcoming listing on the HashKey Global exchange and others. The change, standing for “ZK Join,” aims to promote a unified and open ZK community. The move follows a week-long dispute with Matter Labs over the “ZK” ticker symbol.

Eli Ben-Sasson, CEO of StarkWare, criticized Matter Labs’ actions as an “absurd IP grab,” comparing it to a baker trying to patent bread. He emphasized that ZK cryptography was developed for the collective good and should remain a public resource.

Prominent Figures Urge Matter Labs to Abandon Trademark Applications

The letter, shared with Cointelegraph, was signed by notable figures, including Sandeep Nailwal and Brendan Farmer, co-founders of Polygon; Eli Ben-Sasson of StarkWare; Tiancheng Xie of Polyhedra Network; and Shafi Goldwasser, a Turing Award winner and co-inventor of ZK-proofs. They argue that ZK technology, with its vast potential beyond blockchain, should not be monopolized by any single entity.

The signatories emphasize that the attempt to trademark ZK technology undermines the ethos of the crypto and Ethereum communities. They urged the community to demand that Matter Labs trademark applications be withdrawn and cease using the ZK ticker.

ZK-proofs, despite being in their early stages, hold significant promises for future digital identity solutions, potentially offering a privacy-focused compliance paradigm. Industry experts stress that maintaining ZK technology as a public good is crucial for its continued innovation and application.