In a recent development, the London High Court has upheld a previous ruling that demands the operators of Bitcoin.org, including the pseudonymous figure known as Cøbra, to reveal their identities. This decision comes as a response to legal fees imposed by self-proclaimed Bitcoin inventor Craig Wright. The legal dispute traces back to April 2021 when Craig Wright served legal papers to Cøbra regarding the copyright of Bitcoin’s whitepaper, which serves as the foundational manifesto for the popular cryptocurrency.
London High Court judge orders Cobra to show up in court
Craig Wright, an Australian computer scientist who has consistently claimed to be the elusive Satoshi Nakamoto, accused Bitcoin.org’s operators of infringing his rights by hosting the white paper on their website. He asserted that, as Satoshi, he held the copyright to the Bitcoin manifesto. Initially, when Cøbra failed to appear in the London court, a judge ordered the removal of the white paper from the Bitcoin.org website. Later, when Cøbra attempted to challenge Wright’s request for £568,516.42 ($704,500) in legal fees, a London High Court Judge ruled in November that, to contest the costs, Cøbra must disclose their identity.
On Monday, London High Court Justice Richard Smith dismissed Cøbra’s appeal against the November ruling. He pointed out that while there are legitimate reasons for parties to seek anonymity in legal proceedings, such as concerns for personal safety, Cøbra’s grounds for remaining anonymous appeared impractical. The judge also noted that Cøbra’s stance risked undermining the principles of natural justice because they aimed to remain anonymous not only from the public but also from the claimant, Craig Wright, and the court itself.
Implications for cryptocurrency anonymity and intellectual property
The crypto world is no stranger to pseudonymous figures who play significant roles in the community, whether as developers, influencers, or active participants. This context sheds light on Cøbra’s determination to maintain their anonymity. Meanwhile, Craig Wright has been pursuing multiple lawsuits worldwide related to the Bitcoin whitepaper. He has even pursued defamation claims against individuals who have disputed his assertion that he is Satoshi Nakamoto.
Following the recent London High Court decision, lawyers representing Craig Wright are now awaiting further orders on the next steps in the case, including whether Cøbra will be required to pay the full legal fees. As of now, legal representatives for Cøbra have not made any public comments on the matter. The ongoing legal battle between Craig Wright and the operators of Bitcoin.org, represented by the pseudonymous figure Cøbra, continues to raise questions.
Some of the questions raised are about the intersection of cryptocurrency, intellectual property, and the right to anonymity. The London High Court’s decision to uphold the requirement for Cøbra to disclose their identity marks another chapter in this complex and closely-watched legal saga. As the crypto community closely monitors these developments, the outcome of this case could have implications for how intellectual property disputes are handled in the rapidly evolving world of digital currencies.
