By Tom Blitzer
Key Insights:
- Craig Wright submits new evidence in Satoshi’s identity case.
- Significant legal costs imposed on Wright by the court.
- Wright’s claims challenge Bitcoin’s open-source nature.
In a recent development in the ongoing legal battle concerning the identity of Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, British Justice Edward James Mellor has scheduled a new trial date. Additionally, he accepted new evidence from Craig Wright.
The Claims and Counterclaims
The ongoing case has seen Wright, who in 2016 declared himself to be Satoshi Nakamoto, embattled against a group of 13 Bitcoin Core developers and entities like Blockstream, Coinbase, and Block. These parties, represented under the Cryptocurrency Open Patent Alliance (COPA), have strongly opposed Wright’s assertions.
During a pre-trial review on December 15, Justice Mellor permitted Wright to submit an additional 97 documents to bolster his claim. These documents, reportedly found in two USB drives at Wright’s house, contain LaTex files similar to those used in drafting the Bitcoin white paper. However, the Bitcoin developers have accused Wright of fabricating evidence and manipulating metadata. They argue that these documents surfaced only after they had presented evidence questioning the authenticity of Wright’s earlier submissions.
The Court’s Decisions and Implications
Further intensifying the legal drama, the judge ordered Wright to make significant security payments. The court ruled that if Wright failed in the trial, he must cover the developers’ legal expenses, totaling 800,000 pounds, or around $1 million. This requirement comes from an earlier mandated deposit of 100,000 pounds, which is about $127,000.
Furthermore, the judge specified that Wright is responsible for covering the 65,000 pounds ($82,000) incurred by COPA for expert analysis regarding his Autism Spectrum Disorder. Wright, who identifies himself as having ASD, had earlier requested certain accommodations for the trial, which included getting all questions for cross-examination beforehand. The developers challenged this request, leading to the judge’s decision to allow only limited concessions for Wright, such as access to LiveNote Screen and the use of paper for writing questions.
The Debate Over Bitcoin’s Open Source Nature
At the heart of Wright’s lawsuit is his contention that the Bitcoin Core developers form a “Bitcoin Partnership,” allegedly controlling Bitcoin. This claim is pivotal as the Bitcoin code is open-sourced and distributed under the Massachusetts Institute of Technology license, which permits unrestricted reuse, including in proprietary applications. Wright’s lawsuit, stemming from alleged copyright violations of the Bitcoin white paper, Bitcoin file format, and Bitcoin blockchain database, seeks to redefine the governance and ownership of Bitcoin.
Moreover, the outcome of this trial could have significant consequences for the future of Bitcoin and its governance. With Wright’s additional evidence and the substantial legal costs at stake, the cryptocurrency community watches closely. The pivotal question remains: will the new evidence be enough to prove Wright’s claim to be Satoshi Nakamoto, or will it further complicate an already intricate legal battle?