Étienne Girard
The launch of Sony’s Layer 2 blockchain, Soneium, has stirred controversy following reports of developers blacklisting certain memecoins due to alleged intellectual property (IP) violations.
According to community discussions, this move on launch day led to multiple tokens being rendered untradable and unsupported on the platform, frustrating users who expressed concerns on social media platforms like X.
The targeted tokens reportedly mimic or infringe upon Sony-related branding, prompting Soneium to restrict their activities on the network. Users attempting to trade or view these memecoins encounter a “forbidden” alert on Soneium’s block explorer.
This decision has disrupted the trading ecosystem for several projects, sparking debates over the extent of control blockchain developers should exert to safeguard IP rights while upholding the principle of a decentralized, permissionless environment.
Community Backlash and Industry Opinions
Alon, the pseudonymous founder of pump.fun, criticized Soneium’s decision, stating that it effectively destroyed users’ token positions by reducing their value to zero.
Kawz, founder of Time.fun, further alleged that the restrictions resulted in users losing access to over $100,000 worth of ETH on launch day. “I’ve never witnessed anything like this before,” Kawz claimed, noting that at least two tokens had already been blacklisted.
One notable project affected is Aibo, a memecoin inspired by Sony’s robotic dog series, which was valued at approximately $700,000, according to DexScreener. The project’s developers have indicated they are collaborating with Soneium to resolve the matter and may consider rebranding to avoid further issues.
Soneium’s Response and Focus on IP Protection
Sony Block Solutions Labs, based in Singapore, launched Soneium as part of its strategy to support creators while enforcing IP rights. Addressing the controversy, Soneium emphasized its commitment to safeguarding intellectual property without compromising the core values of openness and innovation in the web3 space.
“Our documentation highlights measures to protect IP and combat malicious activities while maintaining web3’s ethos,” Soneium stated, signaling a continued effort to balance innovation and compliance.
The unfolding situation underscores the complexities blockchain platforms face as they navigate between decentralized ideals and regulatory compliance in a rapidly evolving market.
