Matter Labs has decided to drop its trademark registration for the term “ZK” after a week-long dispute with Polyhedra Network over the ZK identifier. Polyhedra accused Matter Labs of bullying and violating Web3 values.

Matter Labs, the developer of the ZkSync Ethereum Layer 2 network, announced on June 3 that they had decided to withdraw their trademark registration efforts due to difficulties in finding a widely recognized neutral group.

Matter Labs abandons "ZK" trademark application

Previously, Matter Labs attempted to apply for trademark registration of the term "zero knowledge" (ZK) in nine countries, which clashed with Polyhedra Network. Polyhedra condemned Matter Labs' actions, believing that this would privatize public resources and violate the open principles of Web3.

Following strong opposition from the community and important figures in the industry, Matter Labs eventually abandoned its trademark plan. They said that while it was feasible within the Ethereum ecosystem, it might not be applicable or effective globally due to the diversity of views and interests.

Matter Labs expressed its gratitude for the community’s support and emphasized the importance of cypherpunk values. They believe that the community is at the core of everything and look forward to the upcoming “ZK Summer”.

Opposition from the community and important figures

Several industry leaders, including the co-inventor of ZK proofs, Polygon co-founder, and senior executives of StarkWare and Linea, have issued statements strongly opposing Matter Labs' trademark registration, arguing that it will limit universal access to the term "ZK" and could alienate Matter Labs from the community.

Companies such as StarkWare (a software company developing zero-knowledge proof technology) and Linea (a Layer 2 scaling solution) also supported the opposition, condemning Matter Labs’ attempt to violate the ethical standards of the cryptocurrency industry through trademark registration.

Conclusion:

This controversy reflects the Web3 and cryptocurrency communities’ emphasis on openness and shared values, and the industry’s firm stance on upholding these principles.

Matter Labs’ decision to withdraw its trademark registration demonstrates the power of community opinion in decentralized ecosystems, and the adaptive measures companies may take in the face of community feedback. #ZK #商标之争