Legal Victory Affirms Patent Strength and Unstoppable's Commitment to Open Innovation
One year ago, Unstoppable Domains achieved a decisive legal victory when the United States Patent and Trademark Office denied the petition filed by ENS Labs Ltd. That sought to invalidate the U.S. Patent No. 11,558,344, titled ‘Resolving Blockchain Domains.’ The decision confirmed the patent’s validity and strength, bringing the case to a close.
Since that ruling, Unstoppable Domains has remained true to its commitments around open innovation and has not attempted to enforce its patents on anyone. This continued approach reflects the company’s mission to use intellectual property responsibly by protecting innovation while encouraging collaboration and progress across the Web3 domain ecosystem.
USPTO Confirms Unstoppable’s Patent Stands
In its official ruling issued on November 22, 2024, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board concluded that ENS Labs failed to demonstrate a reasonable likelihood of prevailing on any of its challenges. The decision not only validates Unstoppable’s innovation but also reinforces its approach to intellectual property stewardship.
“We are proud that the USPTO affirmed the integrity of our intellectual property,” said Matt Gould, Founder and CEO of Unstoppable Domains. “This victory underscores the originality of our technology and our continued commitment to responsibly advancing the Web3 naming ecosystem.”
About the ‘344 Patent
Granted on January 17, 2023, U.S. Patent No. 11,558,344 covers the method and system for resolving blockchain-based domain names through smart contracts. The technology powers Unstoppable Domains’ pioneering .crypto registry, allowing users to link human-readable onchain names with blockchain addresses and content without relying on centralized intermediaries.
Key innovations include gasless transactions, smart contract-based resolution, and decentralized domain management. These features have been core to Unstoppable’s technology since its early deployments in 2020.
Case Background
ENS Labs filed its petition challenging all 20 claims of the patent. After reviewing the submissions and evidence, the USPTO ruled that ENS did not meet the required threshold under U.S. patent law to proceed. The board determined that ENS had not proven that its referenced materials qualified as prior art or that they invalidated Unstoppable’s patented technology.
The decision effectively closes the case, confirming that Unstoppable’s patent remains valid and enforceable.
Unstoppable Domains’ Commitment to Open Innovation
Unstoppable Domains uses patents defensively to protect innovation and maintain fairness in the rapidly evolving Onchain naming industry. The company’s intellectual property strategy ensures freedom to operate while supporting open standards and interoperability across naming systems, including .eth.
“Protecting our IP is the only responsible way to ensure that the Web3 industry can continue to innovate for our community and partners,” added Sandy Carter, Chief Business Officer for Unstoppable Domains. “We will continue to build open, interoperable infrastructure that empowers developers, users and partners around the world.”
Why This Matters To Unstoppable Domains, ENS and The Web3 Industry
This ruling was a major milestone for the Web3 and blockchain industries. It affirmed that blockchain-based naming and domain resolution systems can be protected under U.S. patent law and establishes Unstoppable Domains’ leadership in developing decentralized identity and Web3 infrastructure technologies.
About Unstoppable Domains
Launched in 2018, Unstoppable Domains is an ICANN-accredited registrar and leading digital identity platform dedicated to onboarding the world onto DNS and Web3. Unstoppable Domains provides Web3 domains minted on the blockchain, empowering individuals with full ownership and complete control over their digital identities, with no renewal fees. Users can replace lengthy alphanumeric crypto wallet addresses with easy-to-remember human-readable domain names, streamlining their interactions with apps, wallets, exchanges, and marketplaces. Recognized by Forbes as one of America's Best Startup Employers for four consecutive years—2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025—Unstoppable Domains has rapidly grown, boasting over 4.6 million registered domains.