Craig Wright’s Bitcoin origin document accused of blatant forgery, says COPA
During the second day of the Craig Wright v. COPA trial, the plaintiff alleged that Wright had tampered with the date on his infamous “Nakamoto is the Japanese Adam Smith” document.
This document holds significant importance in the case, as Wright had previously showcased it in a video from 2019, where he claimed to be the original creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto. The date stamp on the document indicates that it was created in 2008, before the release of the Bitcoin whitepaper.
COPA pointed out that the numeral “08” in the document’s date appeared smaller and was not properly aligned with the “20,” suggesting possible alterations or forgery. Wright acknowledged these visual discrepancies but maintained the authenticity of the document, stating that he had possessed it for a long time and could not recall its origin.
Wright also mentioned that he did not personally manage his Twitter account, which had previously asserted the document’s authenticity.
As part of their case, COPA presented the findings of Mr. Madden, an expert who compared the document to versions found in online archives. Madden noted alignment issues and differences in footers compared to those typically seen in documents from 2008. Wright disputed these findings by arguing about the variability of database formats.
Wright firmly rejected COPA’s suggestion that their expert had found the original document, claiming it was an attempt to discredit him. He further emphasized that if the document were forged, it would have been done flawlessly, as he would not have made such amateurish mistakes.
The trial will continue with further testimonies and cross-examinations. It is expected to span several weeks, with both parties prepared for a lengthy legal battle.
This legal dispute originated in 2016 when Dr. Craig Wright, an Australian computer scientist, publicly declared himself to be Nakamoto and asserted copyright claims over Bitcoin. Cryptocurrency Open Patent Alliance (COPA) filed a lawsuit against Wright, aiming to establish that the Bitcoin whitepaper is part of the public domain and that no individual can claim copyright over it or the name “Bitcoin.”
The COPA was formed by major cryptocurrency stakeholders to combat patent aggression and ensure open access to the technology.
