Bitcoin White Paper Restored on Bitcoin.org
The Bitcoin white paper has recently been reinstated on the Bitcoin.org website after Craig Wright’s failed legal bid to prove his identity as Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious inventor of the Bitcoin protocol. Hennadii Stepanov, who manages the Bitcoin.org site, announced the return by sharing a link to the white paper’s PDF on platform X. Legal constraints, Require the site to restrict access to the white paper for users based in the UK. Instead, these users are greeted with a profound quote from Satoshi Nakamoto: “It takes advantage of the nature of information being easy to spread but hard to stifle.”
Back in 2021, Wright secured a legal victory against Cobra, the anonymous entity operating the website, for copyright infringement. This lawsuit compelled the website to remove the white paper PDF. Wright’s win was by default, as Cobra decided against defending the case, resulting in Cobra being required to pay £35,000 ($40,100) to cover Wright’s legal expenses. Wright had earlier filed for copyright registration of the Bitcoin white paper in the United States in 2019.
In 2023, Wright expanded his legal efforts by suing 13 Bitcoin Core developers along with several companies such as Blockstream, Coinbase, and Block. He accused them of violating his copyright on the Bitcoin white paper along with its file format and database rights connected to the Bitcoin blockchain. This led to a reaction from the Bitcoin Legal Defense Fund, which pointed out a rising trend of what they termed abusive lawsuits aimed at prominent contributors to the Bitcoin ecosystem. The defense fund also highlighted that such lawsuits pose significant challenges, including time, stress, expenses, and legal risks that discourage further development in the Bitcoin sphere.
Despite his earlier legal victories, Wright’s claims to be Satoshi Nakamoto have been comprehensively debunked, thus nullifying his copyright assertions. One significant ruling came from a lawsuit initiated by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA). This coalition of high-profile companies aimed to prevent Wright from claiming ownership over Bitcoin’s core intellectual property. COPA’s suit accused Wright of constructing an elaborate scheme involving forgery and deceit to substantiate his claims of being Nakamoto.
A UK court further complicated Wright’s situation by freezing assets worth 6.7 million British pounds ($8.4 million) to ensure he could not evade paying court-ordered expenses. The court’s decision was part of a larger plan to curb his attempts to avoid financial responsibilities stemming from his prolonged legal battles.
The resolution of Wright’s legal conflicts had positive repercussions for the Bitcoin community. The reinstatement of the white paper on Bitcoin.org under an MIT open-source license marked a significant moment. Now publicly accessible, the white paper can be reused and modified by anyone for any purpose, aligning with the decentralized and open-source ethos of the Bitcoin community.
The repeated legal disputes stirred considerable attention, yet they also served to reinforce the Bitcoin ecosystem’s resilience. Developers and companies continue to push back against such legal maneuvers, safeguarding the protocol’s integrity and openness. The return of the white paper to Bitcoin.org is emblematic of these ongoing efforts to protect Bitcoin’s foundational principles.
These developments highlight the importance of collective defense mechanisms, such as the Bitcoin Legal Defense Fund and COPA, in countering baseless legal threats. By uniting against attempts to assert illegitimate claims over Bitcoin, the community can ensure that its advancements remain accessible to all, fostering innovation without the shadow of unwarranted legal obstructions.
34 thoughts on “Bitcoin White Paper Restored on Bitcoin.org”
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I can’t believe we’re still talking about Craig Wright in 2023. How many more court cases does he need to lose before he finally gives up?
Wright’s repeated lawsuits are a black mark on the Bitcoin community. Enough is enough! Let’s get back to building awesome decentralized tech without this drama.
Craig Wright’s claims crumble yet again. Welcome back, Bitcoin white paper!
Craig Wright’s actions are nothing but a distraction 😒. We should be advancing the Bitcoin protocol, not stuck in courtroom drama. 📉
Victory for transparency and open-source development! Glad to see the white paper reinstated on Bitcoin.org!
Craig Wright can keep trying, but Bitcoin’s ethos will never falter. Kudos to everyone involved! 🌟✨
A major step forward for open-source principles. Hennadii Stepanov, take a bow!
Unstoppable! The white paper’s back, stronger than ever. Kudos to our defenders!
Restricting access to the white paper in the UK is downright infuriating! How long will the community have to deal with these unfounded legal shenanigans? 🤬
BTC community fights back and wins! So proud to see the white paper back where it belongs.
The white paper’s return is a testament to the power of decentralized communities. Power to the people!
Unity and persistence pay off! Kudos to everyone defending Bitcoin’s principles.
Hennadii Stepanov and the Bitcoin Legal Defense Fund are heroes in my book!
Absolutely thrilled to see the white paper reinstated on Bitcoin.org. Keep fighting the good fight! 🌟🌐
Back where it belongs! Kudos to Hennadii Stepanov for standing strong. Bitcoin forever!
What a win for the crypto community! So glad the white paper is accessible once again!
It’s annoying that UK users are being restricted from accessing the white paper because of Wright. 🇬🇧🔒 His baseless legal claims are stopping people from learning about Bitcoin. 🤦♂️
Resilience and unity have triumphed. The white paper’s return is a beacon of innovation!
Craig Wright’s legal defeats are piling up. The truth prevails! So glad the white paper is back on Bitcoin.org! 🌟💯
Resilient as always, the Bitcoin community stands strong! Welcome back, Bitcoin white paper! 🚀🔓
The community’s strength has shone through once again. Welcome back, Bitcoin white paper!
Why is Craig Wright still trying to claim he’s Satoshi Nakamoto? 🤔 This has been debunked so many times—give it a rest already! 😤
It’s almost comical how Craig Wright thinks he can still claim to be Satoshi despite being debunked so many times. Come on, dude! Give it up!
The return of the white paper symbolizes our collective strength. Here’s to more decentralized innovation!
So inspired by the collective effort to reinstate the white paper. Bitcoin community for the win! 👏💥
These court battles are such a waste of resources. Wright’s constant need for attention is damaging the community . Let’s focus on real innovation rather than petty fights.
What a triumph! The white paper’s return reaffirms Bitcoin’s foundational principles.
Amazing news! The white paper’s return on Bitcoin.org is a huge win for the community. Power to the people!
Legal harassment like this is why we can’t have nice things. Craig Wright needs to stop wasting everyone’s time and admit he’s not Satoshi Nakamoto.
Proof that you can’t hold back true innovation. The white paper’s home is Bitcoin.org!
Satoshi’s vision endures through these legal battles. Hats off to Hennadii Stepanov and the defenders!
The fact that UK users can’t access the white paper due to legal constraints is absurd! 🚫 What a way to ruin the open-source spirit of Bitcoin. Wright’s lawsuits are just a cash grab. 💸
Victory for transparency and open innovation! The community stands strong.
Craig Wright’s tactics are not just annoying; they’re destructive . Blockchain development is being hampered by this constant legal nonsense.