Crypto Open Patent Alliance v Wright (Re Pre-Trial Review) [2023] EWHC 3287 (Ch) (20 December 2023)

Crypto Open Patent Alliance v Wright (Re Pre-Trial Review) [2023] EWHC 3287 (Ch) (20 December 2023)

Dr Wright is granted permission to rely on some or all of the additional documents, subject to further case management directions. The trial is adjourned to allow time for proper analysis and preparation, as a fair trial would not be possible otherwise. The court declines to summarily determine the evidential value of the additional documents at this stage. Directions are given for revised timetabling and further steps to ensure fairness to all parties.

Citation
[2023] EWHC 3287 (Ch)
Parties
Claimant in IL 2021 000019; Defendant in IL 2022 000069: 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: Squareup International Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
20 December 2023
Procedural Posture
Civil Intellectual Property / Declaratory Relief / Pre Trial Review / Pre Trial Review (ptr) Judgment on Applications for Adjournment, Permission to Rely on Documents, and Case Management Directions
Outcome
Applications granted in part; trial adjourned; permission to rely on additional documents granted subject to directions; further case management orders made.
Legal Topics
Disclosure of Evidence, Adjournment of Trial, Forensic Document Analysis, Declaratory Relief, Case Management, Forgery Allegations, Expert Evidence

Case Brief

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Parties

Crypto Open Patent Alliance

Claimant in IL 2021 000019; Defendant in IL 2022 000069

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

Squareup International Limited

Defendant in IL 2022 000069

Procedural Posture

Civil Intellectual Property / Declaratory Relief / Pre Trial Review / Pre Trial Review (ptr) Judgment on Applications for Adjournment, Permission to Rely on Documents, and Case Management Directions

  1. 1 Whether Dr Wright should be permitted to rely on additional documents discovered late
  2. 2 Whether the trial should be adjourned to allow analysis of new evidence
  3. 3 Whether the court should summarily determine the evidential value of the additional documents

Ratio Decidendi

Dr Wright is granted permission to rely on some or all of the additional documents, subject to further case management directions. The trial is adjourned to allow time for proper analysis and preparation, as a fair trial would not be possible otherwise. The court declines to summarily determine the evidential value of the additional documents at this stage. Directions are given for revised timetabling and further steps to ensure fairness to all parties.

Court Disposition

Applications granted in part; trial adjourned; permission to rely on additional documents granted subject to directions; further case management orders made.

Orders

  • Dr Wright granted permission to rely on additional documents (subject to further directions)
  • Trial adjourned to a later date to allow for analysis and preparation