Company suggests ways to take down domains used for nefarious purposes.
One of the features of blockchain-based naming systems is also a bug: it’s not possible to take down domains that are used in bad ways.
It is perhaps a bit ironic that Unstoppable Domains, a company whose name is based partially on the idea that web3 names can’t be censored, has filed a patent application for doing just that.
Web3 naming conventions seem to now recognize that taking down and suspending domains is critical to a functioning naming system. It’s necessary if you want end user companies to get involved.
In February last year, Unstoppable Domains filed a U.S. patent application (pdf) titled “Deactivation of decentralized domains.“. The application was published last week.
How would it accomplish the takedowns on a decentralized system?
One way would be to allow a certain number of wallets or signed messages from user wallets to request a takedown:
In this case, a takedown may be triggered when a sufficient number of users sign messages from their wallets indicating problems or issues with the decentralized domain. The signed messages may be sent to the decentralized domain for monitoring by the domain smart contact. Further, the preferences or conditions may include a time period (e.g., days, weeks, months, years, etc.) in which the messages need to be signed by the wallets to indicate the takedown. For example, a time of period of a few years between signed messages is likely insufficient to indicate a valid issue. Moreover, the preferences or conditions may consider or accept signed messages from wallets (or users) having accounts with safety or reliability scores satisfying a threshold indicating a safe or reliable user or wallet account. The safety score may be based on reliability or safety scores of parties (users or wallet accounts) of transactions, quantity of invalid transactions, etc. In addition, the preferences or conditions may consider or accept the signed messages based on the age of the wallet account. By way of example, users may create new wallet accounts for malicious purposes, where an older wallet account may indicate greater validity.
Moreover, the preferences and conditions may be based on a reviewing authority that performs a review of the decentralized domain and provides a signed message on behalf of a domain takedown organization. In addition, the preferences or conditions may be based on a safety or reliability score of the decentralized domain. In this case, the safety or reliability score may be compared to a threshold indicating a safe or reliable domain. The safety score may be based on reliability or safety scores of parties (users or wallet accounts) accessing the decentralized domain, content, quantity of complaints, ratings, and/or invalid transactions, etc. Once the domain becomes unsafe, deactivation may be initiated (e.g., as opposed to requiring others to mark the decentralized domain for deactivation). Satisfaction of a set of any quantity or combination of the preferences or conditions may trigger deactivation of the decentralized domain.
The application envisions a cure period for the blockchain name owner if a takedown is requested.
Source: https://domainnamewire.com/
