Crypto Open Patent Alliance v Craig Steven Wright [2024] EWHC 1198 (Ch) (20 May 2024)

Crypto Open Patent Alliance v Craig Steven Wright [2024] EWHC 1198 (Ch) (20 May 2024)

The court found, on overwhelming evidence, that Dr Wright is not Satoshi Nakamoto, is not the author of the Bitcoin White Paper, did not create the Bitcoin system, and did not author the initial Bitcoin software. The court found Dr Wright had lied extensively and forged documents to support his claim. The evidence supporting Dr Wright was at best circumstantial, questionable, or fabricated, while the evidence against his claim was substantial, credible, and corroborated by expert and factual witnesses. Declaratory relief was necessary to do justice between the parties.

Citation
[2024] EWHC 1198 (Ch)
Parties
Claimant in IL 2021 000019 (copa Claim) / Defendant in IL 2022 000069 (btc Core Claim): Crypto Open Patent Alliance; Defendant in COPA Claim / Claimant in BTC Core Claim: Craig Steven Wright; Claimant in BTC Core Claim: Wright International Investments Limited; Claimant in BTC Core Claim: Wright International Investments UK Limited; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: BTC Core; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Wladimir Jasper van der Laan; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Jonas Schnelli; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Pieter Wuille; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Marco Patrick Falke; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Samuel Dobson; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Michael Rohan Ford; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Cory Fields; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: George Michael Dombrowski (a.k.a 'Luke Dashjr'); Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Matthew Gregory Corallo; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Peter Todd; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Gregory Fulton Maxwell; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Eric Lombrozo; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: John Newbery; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Peter John Bushnell; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Block, Inc.; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Spiral BTC, Inc.; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Squareup Europe Ltd; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Blockstream Corporation Inc.; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Chaincode Labs, Inc; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Coinbase Global Inc.; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: CB Payments, Ltd; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Coinbase Europe Limited; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Coinbase Inc.; Defendant in BTC Core Claim: Squareup International Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
20 May 2024
Procedural Posture
Civil Intellectual Property / Declaratory Relief / Final Judgment After Trial of Preliminary Issue (identity Issue) and Main Claim
Outcome
Judgment for COPA. Declarations granted that Dr Wright is not Satoshi Nakamoto, not the author of the Bitcoin White Paper, not the creator of Bitcoin, and not the author of the initial Bitcoin software.
Legal Topics
Copyright Authorship, Database Rights, Declaratory Relief, Forgery, Passing Off, Blockchain Technology, Cryptocurrency, Burden of Proof, Expert Evidence
Intellectual Property Civil Procedure Technology Law Copyright Authorship Database Rights Declaratory Relief Forgery Passing Off +4 more

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Parties

Crypto Open Patent Alliance

Claimant in IL 2021 000019 (copa Claim) / Defendant in IL 2022 000069 (btc Core Claim)

Craig Steven Wright

Defendant in COPA Claim / Claimant in BTC Core Claim

Wright International Investments Limited

Claimant in BTC Core Claim

Wright International Investments UK Limited

Claimant in BTC Core Claim

BTC Core

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Wladimir Jasper van der Laan

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Jonas Schnelli

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Pieter Wuille

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Marco Patrick Falke

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Samuel Dobson

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Michael Rohan Ford

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Cory Fields

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

George Michael Dombrowski (a.k.a 'Luke Dashjr')

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Matthew Gregory Corallo

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Peter Todd

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Gregory Fulton Maxwell

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Eric Lombrozo

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

John Newbery

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Peter John Bushnell

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Block, Inc.

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Spiral BTC, Inc.

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Squareup Europe Ltd

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Blockstream Corporation Inc.

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Chaincode Labs, Inc

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Coinbase Global Inc.

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

CB Payments, Ltd

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Coinbase Europe Limited

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Coinbase Inc.

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Squareup International Limited

Defendant in BTC Core Claim

Procedural Posture

Civil Intellectual Property / Declaratory Relief / Final Judgment After Trial of Preliminary Issue (identity Issue) and Main Claim

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether Dr Craig Steven Wright is Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin and author of the Bitcoin White Paper and initial Bitcoin software
  2. 2 Whether Dr Wright forged documents to support his claim
  3. 3 Whether declaratory relief should be granted denying Dr Wright's claims to authorship and creation

Ratio Decidendi

The court found, on overwhelming evidence, that Dr Wright is not Satoshi Nakamoto, is not the author of the Bitcoin White Paper, did not create the Bitcoin system, and did not author the initial Bitcoin software. The court found Dr Wright had lied extensively and forged documents to support his claim. The evidence supporting Dr Wright was at best circumstantial, questionable, or fabricated, while the evidence against his claim was substantial, credible, and corroborated by expert and factual witnesses. Declaratory relief was necessary to do justice between the parties.

Court Disposition

Judgment for COPA. Declarations granted that Dr Wright is not Satoshi Nakamoto, not the author of the Bitcoin White Paper, not the creator of Bitcoin, and not the author of the initial Bitcoin software.

Orders

  • Declaration that Dr Wright is not the author of the Bitcoin White Paper.
  • Declaration that Dr Wright is not Satoshi Nakamoto.