Polygon Legal Policy Officer Responds to ZK Trademark Registration: Attempting to add the TM trademark to widely used code names is tantamount to anti-open source

On May 31st, in response to the recent application for the ZK trademark by zkSync developer Matter Labs, Polygon Legal Policy Officer Rebecca Rettig said in an X post that cryptocurrency is about changing paradigms such as self-sovereignty, transparency, community, freedom. Sometimes, trademarks may make sense in this area, but trying to add the TM trademark to a widely used code name is tantamount to anti-open source. If certain organizations or individuals seek to own the TM trademark rights on "ZK" because it is related to "downloadable and recordable encryption software," you are simply telling the Trademark Registration Office that you should have the right to use the term and that type of software, ignoring the countless industries that rely on ZK technology and use the term. So far, no TM trademarks have been granted in the nine jurisdictions where applications have been filed, and these applications must pass review along with any objections.