Matter Labs Abandons Trademark Applications For 'ZK'

According to BlockBeats, Matter Labs, the company behind zkSync, has decided to abandon all trademark applications for the term 'ZK'. Previously, Matter Labs had submitted trademark applications for 'ZK' in nine countries, claiming that the term 'zero-knowledge' was its exclusive intellectual property. This move had sparked widespread dissatisfaction in the crypto industry. Polyhedra, Polygon, and StarkWare issued a joint statement, stating that ZK should not become a company's trademark and should continue to be a public product. The decision by Matter Labs to abandon the trademark applications is seen as a response to the backlash from the crypto industry. The term 'ZK' or 'zero-knowledge' is a common term in the industry, and its appropriation as a trademark by a single company was viewed as inappropriate. The joint statement by Polyhedra, Polygon, and StarkWare reflects the industry's stance on the issue. This incident highlights the importance of maintaining common terms as public property in the crypto industry. It also underscores the need for companies to respect the collective intellectual property of the industry and refrain from claiming exclusive rights to common terms. The decision by Matter Labs is a significant step in this direction.