Crypto Open Patent Alliance v Craig Steven Wright

Crypto Open Patent Alliance v Craig Steven Wright

The court granted anti-suit injunctions restraining Dr Wright and his companies from commencing or threatening any proceedings (worldwide) based on his false claim to be Satoshi Nakamoto or related IP rights, but refused to grant broader injunctions restraining all assertions or publications of such claims, finding the latter disproportionate and unnecessary in light of the declarations and the anti-suit/threat injunctions. The court ordered dissemination of the findings on Dr Wright's website, X/Twitter, and Slack channels, but refused to order deletion of all prior statements or publication in The Times. The court set aside the default judgment and all orders in the COBRA claim as...

Parties
Claimant in IL 2021 000019 (copa Claim): Crypto Open Patent Alliance; Defendant in COPA Claim; Claimant in IL 2021 000035, IL 2021 000036, IL 2022 000069: Craig Steven Wright; Claimant in IL 2021 000035, IL 2021 000036, IL 2022 000069: Wright International Investments Limited; Claimant in IL 2022 000069: Wright International Investments UK Limited; Defendants in IL 2021 000035 (coinbase Claim) and IL 2022 000069 (btc Core Claim): Coinbase Global Inc. and related entities; Defendants in IL 2021 000036 (kraken Claim): Payward, Inc. and related entities; Defendants in IL 2022 000069 (btc Core Claim): BTC Core and individual developers; Defendants in BTC Core Claim: Block, Inc., Spiral BTC, Inc., Squareup Europe Ltd, Blockstream Corporation Inc., Chaincode Labs, Inc.; Claimant in BL 2021 000313 (tulip Trading Claim): Tulip Trading Limited; Defendants in Tulip Trading Claim: Bitcoin Association for BSV and individual developers; Defendant in Tulip Trading Claim: Roger Ver
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
16 July 2024
Procedural Posture
Civil (multi Claim, Ip, Injunctive, Costs, Ancillary Applications) / Form of Order Hearing After Main Trial and Discontinuance of Several Claims
Outcome
Injunctions granted restraining Dr Wright and his companies from commencing or threatening proceedings based on his false claims; broader injunctive relief (against all assertions/publications) refused; dissemination orders granted; default judgment and orders in COBRA claim set aside; referral to CPS ordered;...
Legal Topics
Anti Suit Injunctions, Freedom of Expression (article 10 Echr), Abuse of Process, Declaratory Relief, Indemnity Costs, Setting Aside Default Judgment, Collateral Use of Disclosed Documents, Referral to CPS for Perjury/forgery
Intellectual Property Civil Procedure Injunctions Costs Human Rights Anti Suit Injunctions Freedom of Expression (article 10 Echr) Abuse of Process +5 more

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 5 Authorities cited 23 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 6
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Crypto Open Patent Alliance

Claimant in IL 2021 000019 (copa Claim)

Craig Steven Wright

Defendant in COPA Claim; Claimant in IL 2021 000035, IL 2021 000036, IL 2022 000069

Wright International Investments Limited

Claimant in IL 2021 000035, IL 2021 000036, IL 2022 000069

Wright International Investments UK Limited

Claimant in IL 2022 000069

Coinbase Global Inc. and related entities

Defendants in IL 2021 000035 (coinbase Claim) and IL 2022 000069 (btc Core Claim)

Payward, Inc. and related entities

Defendants in IL 2021 000036 (kraken Claim)

BTC Core and individual developers

Defendants in IL 2022 000069 (btc Core Claim)

Block, Inc., Spiral BTC, Inc., Squareup Europe Ltd, Blockstream Corporation Inc., Chaincode Labs, Inc.

Defendants in BTC Core Claim

Tulip Trading Limited

Claimant in BL 2021 000313 (tulip Trading Claim)

Bitcoin Association for BSV and individual developers

Defendants in Tulip Trading Claim

Roger Ver

Defendant in Tulip Trading Claim

Procedural Posture

Civil (multi Claim, Ip, Injunctive, Costs, Ancillary Applications) / Form of Order Hearing After Main Trial and Discontinuance of Several Claims

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether to grant wide-ranging injunctive relief against Dr Wright and his companies to prevent further litigation and publication of false claims to be Satoshi Nakamoto
  2. 2 Whether to order dissemination of the judgment and findings against Dr Wright
  3. 3 Whether to set aside default judgment and orders in the COBRA claim obtained by fraud

Ratio Decidendi

The court granted anti-suit injunctions restraining Dr Wright and his companies from commencing or threatening any proceedings (worldwide) based on his false claim to be Satoshi Nakamoto or related IP rights, but refused to grant broader injunctions restraining all assertions or publications of such claims, finding the latter disproportionate and unnecessary in light of the declarations and the anti-suit/threat injunctions. The court ordered dissemination of the findings on Dr Wright's website, X/Twitter, and Slack channels, but refused to order deletion of all prior statements or publication in The Times. The court set aside the default judgment and all orders in the COBRA claim as...

Court Disposition

Injunctions granted restraining Dr Wright and his companies from commencing or threatening proceedings based on his false claims; broader injunctive relief (against all assertions/publications) refused; dissemination orders granted; default judgment and orders in COBRA claim set aside; referral to CPS ordered;...

Orders

  • Dr Wright and his companies restrained from commencing or procuring any proceedings worldwide based on claims to be Satoshi Nakamoto or related IP rights (as defined)
  • Dr Wright and his companies restrained from threatening (explicitly or implicitly) or procuring threats of such proceedings