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Community backlash erupts after Soneium's launch, with critics labeling its restrictions as anti-decentralization.
Japanese multinational conglomerate Sony is entering the blockchain spotlight with the launch of Soneium, its Layer 2 solution built on the ethereum network. Designed to “unlock new possibilities, enhance fan engagement, and harness the transformative potential of web3 technology,” Soneium promises a future where creators, fans, and developers collaborate in a decentralized digital space, according to the Jan. 14 report. . mainnet launch announcement.
But not everyone believes it: Cryptocurrency fans are up in arms over the platform's controversial approach to intellectual property protection.
What is the soneio?
Soneium is Sony's bold leap into the web3 space. Built on top of Optimism Foundation's OP Stack, the layer 2 blockchain aims to bridge the gap between web2 and web3 users. The platform integrates Sony nft-based Fan Marketing Platform and Soneium Spark, initiatives designed to support creators and offer fans unique experiences.
Soneium also leverages Sony's entertainment divisions (Sony Pictures, Sony Music and Sony Music Publishing) to offer fans blockchain-based digital collectibles as a gateway to exclusive content. The goal? Improve fan engagement and foster deeper connections between creators and their audiences.
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But Soneium isn't just about fun and games. It includes tools to protect intellectual property and promises a fair share of profits, with the aim of revolutionizing digital creativity. Still, some members of the crypto community are furious and accuse the developers of pulling the rug out from under investors with censorship features.
Community reaction
The launch has not been without setbacks. While some celebrated the launch of Soneium, others expressed concern about its approach to restricting certain blockchain activities. Co-founder of defi creator studio Pink Brains Ignas, commenting on the launch of Soneium, <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/DefiIgnas/status/1879131874133467304″ target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>noted in an x post that all “current corporate L2s fall short and will likely never align with ethereum as their incentive structures differ.”
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The backlash stems from Soneium's policy of blacklisting addresses linked to intellectual property violations or harmful actions. While it is intended to protect creators, it has sparked debates about decentralization and equity on the web3, which is widely seen as a space built on openness, user autonomy, and resistance to centralized control.
How Soneium's censorship features work
Soneium has a system in place to address unauthorized IP use and potentially harmful activities. When a violation is suspected, the platform adds the address of the offending contract to a list of “Suspected IP Violation,” according to the network. documentation. The listing triggers a warning period, allowing developers to resolve issues without facing restrictions.
If the issues are not resolved, the contract is placed on a shortlist. That means limited activities, such as cutting off public access to RPC and even making it invisible in tools like Block Explorer. However, Soneium highlights that these actions are reversible. However, once improvements are made, the contract status “may be re-evaluated,” the developers say, adding that tags “may be updated or removed after a thorough review.”
Soneium's response
The Soneium team has defended its policies, emphasizing its commitment to decentralization while safeguarding creators. After the reaction of the community, the developers <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/soneium/status/1879085691319280040″ target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>led to to reassure users that the network remains “committed to protecting the intellectual property and rights of creators on the chain, while maintaining the spirit of decentralization.”
“Our documentation outlines how we safeguard intellectual property rights and combat malicious activity, all while keeping web3's core values of openness and innovation intact.”
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crypto.news reached out to the Soneium team but did not receive a response before publication. While Soneium director Sota Watanabe didn't directly address the backlash, he did share an x post after the community talked about developers wanting to use OP Stack to “protect creators' rights against intellectual property infringement.”
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Despite the characteristics of censorship, there are still ways to get around it.
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As Gautham Santhosh, founder of the ethereum-based derivatives network Polynomial, explained in <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/gauthamzzz/status/1879245766101021063″ target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>a postSony could try to censor at the RPC level. Still, they cannot prevent users from transacting through the ethereum mainnet. This is because the OP Stack design “forces each l2 to inherit ethereum's security guarantees.”
While Soneium appears to be off to a bit of a rocky start, Sony's push to blend blockchain with everyday life could still set a new standard in web3. It remains to be seen whether the network will be able to deliver on its promise of a fairer and more connected digital world or will remain just another niche network with limited impact.
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