The Cryptocurrency Open Patent Alliance (COPA) has teamed up with Unified Patents to launch the Blockchain Zone initiative, aimed at combating “patent trolls” in the crypto industry. Patent trolls, or non-practicing entities (NPEs), are known for exploiting patent rights through litigation rather than developing new technologies. COPA and Unified Patents aim to prevent such entities from hindering blockchain innovation by making costly and baseless patent assertions.
The initiative is designed to safeguard blockchain and related technologies from these unwarranted patent claims, fostering an environment where developers and companies can innovate freely without fear of legal threats. Key figures in the partnership, such as Paul Grewal from Coinbase and Steve Lee from Spiral, emphasize that patent trolls create significant barriers to technological progress, especially in the fast-evolving crypto space.
By aligning with over 300 companies through Unified Patents, COPA’s effort strengthens its mission to protect the blockchain community and the broader crypto-economy from the disruptive impact of NPEs, ensuring that blockchain innovation remains open and accessible.
Source: news.bitcoin.com
