UK High Court judge rules against Craig Wright over Bitcoin copyright claims

• The copyright claims made by Craig Wright regarding the Bitcoin whitepaper and code were at the heart of the case.
• COPA claims victory and aims to protect the decentralized nature of Bitcoin from unwarranted copyright claims.
• Judge Mellor cited fabricated evidence in Wright’s claims that he was Satoshi Nakamoto.

The UK High Court has handed down a damning verdict against Craig Wright, a controversial figure claiming to be the elusive creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto.

Justice James Mellor, in a written judgment, said Wright lied “profusely and repeatedly” throughout the trial, further accusing him of presenting “fabricated” evidence to support his claims.

COPA wins against Craig Wright

Judge Mellor’s decision is the culmination of a long legal battle that lasted several years.

The lawsuit, filed by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA), sought to challenge Craig Wright’s claims about ownership of intellectual rights to Bitcoin’s code and white paper.

Wright’s purported attempts to reclaim these fundamental aspects of the cryptocurrency ecosystem have been met with skepticism and legal resistance from various quarters.

Wright’s litigious nature, characterized by numerous lawsuits against developers and individuals criticizing his claims, has raised concerns within the Bitcoin community.

However, Mellor acknowledged the negative impact of Wright’s aggressive legal strategy on Bitcoin developers, stating that Satoshi Nakamoto, known for his collaborative, non-confrontational approach, would likely not resort to litigation.

Fabrication and falsification of documents

The judgment highlighted Wright’s alleged fabrication and falsification of documents on a significant scale, all in support of his core claim that he is Satoshi Nakamoto.

The judge called Wright’s actions “clumsy” and noted the central role those lies played in the outcome of the trial.

COPA, created with the primary aim of defending the open nature of the cryptocurrency ecosystem, disputed Wright’s claims, arguing that such claims could stifle innovation and deter developers from contributing to the Bitcoin network.

Throughout the trial, evidence emerged casting doubt on the authenticity of Wright’s claims.

Documents submitted by Wright’s defense, purporting to support his identity as Satoshi Nakamoto, were examined, revealing inconsistencies and anomalies.

Fonts that did not exist at the alleged time of their creation and metadata indicating recent changes to the document were among the discrepancies cited in Justice Mellor’s judgment.

Craig Wright faces perjury charges

The legal saga surrounding Craig Wright has been closely watched by the cryptocurrency community, given its potential ramifications for the future of Bitcoin and the broader blockchain space.

While Craig…