Matter Labs, the creator of the ZkSync Ethereum Layer 2 network, has decided not to pursue trademarking the term “ZK” after facing criticism. In a statement shared on social media, Matter Labs explained that they reached this decision after engaging in thorough conversations with prominent figures in the zero-knowledge proof community.
Community Leaders Condemn Unethical Attempt
A consortium of industry leaders has issued a strong rebuke against the company’s endeavor, expressing concerns that trademarking the term would impede the collaborative ethos of the community and restrict access to a vital technology.
The public statement denounces the move as an overt attempt by a corporation to claim ownership of a resource that rightfully belongs to the collective. It asserts that “ZK” is a public good that should be accessible to all, emphasizing the violation of core principles within the crypto, Ethereum, and academic communities. The letter also highlights the contradiction with Matter Labs’ own stated ethos of enhancing freedom.
Furthermore, the statement underscores the belief that “ZK” should remain within the public domain, as it was developed collectively and should therefore be owned collectively.
Notable signatories to the statement include Shafi Goldwasser and Silvio Micali, co-inventors of ZK Proofs, Eli Ben-sasson, CEO of StarkWare, Sandeep Nailwal and Brendan Farmer, co-founders of Polygon, Tiancheng Xie, co-founder of Polyhedra Network, and Elias Tazertes, co-founder of Kakarot.
Matter Labs to Launch ZK Token Airdrop
In their post, Matter Labs expressed pride in being part of a movement that upholds the core values of the crypto community.
“After extensive discussions, we have chosen to withdraw all trademark applications for the term ‘ZK,'” the company announced. “While certain strategies may have been suitable for Ethereum, we recognize that they may not be universally applicable.”
Furthermore, Matter Labs announced plans for an airdrop and encouraged current users to register for wallet whitelisting.
