Crypto Open Patent Alliance v Wright (Re POC Amendment) [2023] EWHC 2642 (Ch) (24 October 2023)
Permission is granted to COPA to amend its Particulars of Claim to plead forgery in relation to a total of 50 additional documents, provided each is specifically identified and fully particularised with reasons and references to the expert report. The amendments are justified by the procedural history and are necessary for the fair determination of the core dispute, but must be limited to avoid prejudice and disruption to trial. Permission to plead the similar fact evidence of alleged plagiarism is refused due to minimal probative value and risk of collateral issues.
- Citation
- [2023] EWHC 2642 (Ch)
- Parties
- Claimant in IL 2021 000019: Crypto Open Patent Alliance; Defendant in IL 2021 000019; Claimant in IL 2022 000069: Craig Steven Wright; Claimant in IL 2022 000069: Wright International Investments Limited; Claimant in IL 2022 000069: Wright International Investments UK Limited; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: BTC Core; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Wladimir Jasper van der Laan; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Jonas Schnelli; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Pieter Wuille; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Marco Patrick Falke; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Samuel Dobson; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Michael Rohan Ford; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Cory Fields; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: George Michael Dombrowski (a.k.a 'Luke Dashjr'); Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Matthew Gregory Corallo; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Peter Todd; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Gregory Fulton Maxwell; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Eric Lombrozo; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: John Newbery; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Peter John Bushnell; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Block, Inc.; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Spiral BTC, Inc.; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Squareup Europe Ltd; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Blockstream Corporation Inc.; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Chaincode Labs, Inc; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Coinbase Global Inc.; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: CB Payments, Ltd; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Coinbase Europe Limited; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Coinbase Inc.; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Crypto Open Patent Alliance; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Squareup International Limited
- Jurisdiction
- England and Wales
- Judgment Date
- 24 October 2023
- Procedural Posture
- Application to Amend Particulars of Claim in Ongoing Civil Proceedings (intellectual Property/chancery) / Pre Trial, Interlocutory Application
- Outcome
- Application granted in part, refused in part.
- Legal Topics
- Amendment of Pleadings, Forgery, Fraudulent Misrepresentation, Similar Fact Evidence, Case Management, Disclosure, Document Authenticity
Case Brief
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Crypto Open Patent Alliance
Claimant in IL 2021 000019
Craig Steven Wright
Defendant in IL 2021 000019; Claimant in IL 2022 000069
Wright International Investments Limited
Claimant in IL 2022 000069
Wright International Investments UK Limited
Claimant in IL 2022 000069
BTC Core
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Wladimir Jasper van der Laan
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Jonas Schnelli
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Pieter Wuille
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Marco Patrick Falke
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Samuel Dobson
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Michael Rohan Ford
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Cory Fields
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
George Michael Dombrowski (a.k.a 'Luke Dashjr')
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Matthew Gregory Corallo
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Peter Todd
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Gregory Fulton Maxwell
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Eric Lombrozo
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
John Newbery
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Peter John Bushnell
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Block, Inc.
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Spiral BTC, Inc.
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Squareup Europe Ltd
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Blockstream Corporation Inc.
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Chaincode Labs, Inc
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Coinbase Global Inc.
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
CB Payments, Ltd
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Coinbase Europe Limited
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Coinbase Inc.
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Crypto Open Patent Alliance
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Squareup International Limited
Defendant in IL 2022 000069
Procedural Posture
Application to Amend Particulars of Claim in Ongoing Civil Proceedings (intellectual Property/chancery) / Pre Trial, Interlocutory Application
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether COPA should be permitted to amend its Particulars of Claim to add further allegations of forgery against Dr Wright regarding documents relied upon to prove he is Satoshi Nakamoto
- 2 Whether COPA should be permitted to plead similar fact evidence relating to alleged plagiarism by Dr Wright
Ratio Decidendi
Permission is granted to COPA to amend its Particulars of Claim to plead forgery in relation to a total of 50 additional documents, provided each is specifically identified and fully particularised with reasons and references to the expert report. The amendments are justified by the procedural history and are necessary for the fair determination of the core dispute, but must be limited to avoid prejudice and disruption to trial. Permission to plead the similar fact evidence of alleged plagiarism is refused due to minimal probative value and risk of collateral issues.
Court Disposition
Application granted in part, refused in part.
Orders
- COPA granted permission to amend Particulars of Claim to plead forgery of up to 50 additional documents, each to be specifically identified and particularised within 7 days.
- COPA refused permission to plead the similar fact evidence of plagiarism (proposed paragraph 35C).
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