Resolving Patent Disputes in DeFi

The DeFi Education Fund (DEF) has acquired a patent from True Return Systems (TRS) that was at the center of legal battles with MakerDAO and Compound Protocol. The patent, related to an oracle-like system for data storage and processing, will now be made available to the public by DEF to prevent future lawsuits. DEF criticized TRS as a 'patent troll' and argued that the patented technology was already in widespread use. Following a petition to the USPTO, a decision on the patent's validity is expected within a year. DEF's legal officer highlighted TRS's tactics of targeting entities unable to defend themselves in court. The purchase of the patent has resolved the disputes with MakerDAO and Compound Protocol. TRS had previously attempted to sell the patent as an NFT but was unsuccessful. The founder of TRS, Jack Fonss, passed away earlier this year.