The Ongoing Legal Battle: Craig Wright and the UK Court
The Missed Court Appearance of Craig Wright
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Recent reports have surfaced indicating that Craig Wright, an Australian computer scientist, did not attend his scheduled court hearing in the United Kingdom. The reason cited for his absence was a purported shortage of resources necessary for travel. Wright is embroiled in a contempt of court case related to his lawsuit against Bitcoin Core developers. If proven guilty, he could face a prison sentence.
The COPA vs. Wright Conflict Unfolds
On a recent Wednesday, Wright, who claims to be the creator of Bitcoin, was expected at the London Royal Court of Justice. His absence was noted by those present, as he had communicated via email that he lacked the means to travel. The transcription of the hearing, shared by BitMEX Research, confirms this communication.
In October, the Cryptocurrency Open Patent Alliance (COPA) initiated a contempt application against Wright following his $1.2 billion lawsuit targeting Bitcoin Core Developers and Square Up European Ltd., associated with Jack Dorsey. COPA contends that Wright violated an injunction from the Bitcoin Authorship case, which mandated him to acknowledge that he was not Satoshi Nakamoto and to halt any further related legal actions.
During a court session in early November, Wright denied these allegations, arguing that his current legal pursuits differ as they are focused on his contributions to Bitcoin’s development. Representing himself, Wright claimed he was not in contempt but expressed readiness to modify his case if the court ruled otherwise.
Wright’s lawsuit claims that Bitcoin Core developers and related parties have misrepresented BTC as the original Bitcoin, asserting that Bitcoin SV (BSV) is the true version. Judge Mellor paused this lawsuit until the contempt case is resolved, with a hearing set for December 18. Wright’s physical presence was deemed necessary after he attended the initial hearing via video call from Singapore.
COPA’s Demand for a Sentence
COPA’s legal counsel, Jonathan Hough, disclosed that the organization had proposed covering Wright’s travel expenses, an offer he declined, citing it would not compensate for his business losses. Hough noted Wright’s previous ability to handle significant costs, casting doubt on his current claims of financial inability.
Wright had estimated the total cost of travel and related business impacts to be £240,000, claiming COPA’s actions have hindered his operations. Despite the offer for financial assistance, Wright argued it would still not allow him to meet his obligations or travel feasibly.
Hough urged the court to impose a two-year sentence, with an additional six months if Wright does not retract his new claim, suggesting that Wright is evading jurisdiction to escape consequences.
Following Wright’s absence, Judge James Mellor of the British High Court decided to proceed with the hearing and announced that a judgment would be delivered on Thursday, December 19, at 2 pm UK time. The judge also instructed COPA’s legal team to invite Wright to the sentencing.
Market Impact on Bitcoin
As these legal proceedings continue, Bitcoin (BTC) is trading at $105,000, as observed in the one-week chart. The volatility surrounding these events has significant implications for the cryptocurrency market.
