USPTO trademark database

Matter Labs Withdraws 'ZK' Trademark Applications After Backlash from StarkWare, Polygon

Jun 2, 2024, 07:05 PM

Matter Labs, the creator of zkSync, has decided to withdraw all trademark applications for the term 'ZK' following significant backlash from leading blockchain projects such as StarkWare and Polygon. The controversy began when Matter Labs attempted to enforce the ZK trademark, which led to disputes with other projects including Polyhedra over the ZK ticker. Critics argued that trademarking the term 'ZK' was inappropriate given its widespread use in the blockchain community prior to Matter Labs' involvement. Matter Labs initially claimed the trademark was for defensive purposes to stop scams but acknowledged the feedback and concluded that it would be impossible to enforce the trademark without causing further disputes.