The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) is set to end its legal battle with Manifold Finance over ownership of the eth.link domain after the DAO approved a $300,000 settlement with Manifold. The settlement, approved by 88% of DAOs, allows ENS Labs to retain ownership of the domain while dismissing its lawsuit against Manifold. Additionally, the DAO approved reimbursement of $750,000 for ENS Labs’ legal costs.
background to the dispute
The dispute over the eth.link domain began when ENS Labs sued Manifold and domain registrars GoDaddy and Dynadot in U.S. District Court in Arizona to stop the transfer of ownership of the domain. The domain expired in July 2022 and Manifold purchased it at a Dynadot auction. ENS Labs went through months of legal wrangling to get a court order to stop the domain transfer.
terms of agreement
Manifold’s terms of the settlement called for $300,000 from ENS Labs, along with confidentiality and non-disparagement provisions. In return, ENS Labs will retain ownership of the eth.link domain and the case will be dismissed.
The future of ENS and eth.link
Despite the legal dispute, ENS and GoDaddy have partnered to give .eth ENS domain owners the ability to resolve their differences by linking their domain to their existing domain for free.
https://t.co/tpR0rT37zf was just sniped by us.
Service will be restored once the transfer of ownership is complete. #Ethereum #ENS
— Manifold Finance (@foldfinance) September 3, 2022