Crypto Open Patent Alliance v Craig Steven Wright

Crypto Open Patent Alliance v Craig Steven Wright

COPA's RFI application was granted in part; Dr Wright is ordered to answer specific requests necessary for COPA to prepare its case, particularly regarding key documents, technical processes, and private keys. ASD expert evidence is admitted with directions for COPA to respond. COPA's hearsay notice for additional expert reports is excluded as duplicative and disproportionate. Case management powers under CPR Part 18 are broad and not limited by pre-CPR authorities; necessity and proportionality are the guiding tests.

Parties
Claimant in IL 2021 000019 and Defendant in IL 2022 000069: Crypto Open Patent Alliance; Defendant in IL 2021 000019 and 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 (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
11 October 2024
Procedural Posture
Commercial/intellectual Property / Case Management Conference (cmc) and Interlocutory Applications Pre Trial
Legal Topics
Requests for Further Information, Expert Evidence, Hearsay Evidence, Case Management, Disclosure, Forensic Document Analysis, Autism Spectrum Disorder Adjustments, Identity Issue
Civil Procedure Intellectual Property Evidence Requests for Further Information Expert Evidence Hearsay Evidence Case Management Disclosure +3 more

Case Brief

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Parties

Crypto Open Patent Alliance

Claimant in IL 2021 000019 and Defendant in IL 2022 000069

Craig Steven Wright

Defendant in IL 2021 000019 and 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 (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

Commercial/intellectual Property / Case Management Conference (cmc) and Interlocutory Applications Pre Trial

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether Dr Wright is Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin
  2. 2 Whether Dr Wright must answer COPA's Requests for Further Information
  3. 3 Admissibility of expert evidence on Autism Spectrum Disorder

Ratio Decidendi

COPA's RFI application was granted in part; Dr Wright is ordered to answer specific requests necessary for COPA to prepare its case, particularly regarding key documents, technical processes, and private keys. ASD expert evidence is admitted with directions for COPA to respond. COPA's hearsay notice for additional expert reports is excluded as duplicative and disproportionate. Case management powers under CPR Part 18 are broad and not limited by pre-CPR authorities; necessity and proportionality are the guiding tests.