The world is watching the trial between Craig Wright and the Cryptozoological Open Patent Alliance (COPA) to decide whether the Australian computer scientist is the creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto. Satoshi Nakamoto).
As the trial concluded, a British judge issued a worldwide freezing order (WFO) freezing Wright's assets worth $7.6 million. This decision was made because the risk of paying fees in this case was relatively high.
Bitcoin’s Creator Could Be Anyone But Not Wright
Craig Wright's claims began in 2016 when he began claiming he was the man behind the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. For years, these claims remained unsubstantiated and highly contested by the crypto community.
Wright has faced several legal battles over his attempts to prove Bitcoin's authorship and copyright of the Bitcoin whitepaper.
Earlier this month, Judge James Mellor ruled that Wright was not the creator of Bitcoin. The trial between the Australian computer scientist and COPA determined that "overwhelming evidence was presented" to refute Wright's claims.
The judge’s resolution concluded that “COPA has proven that Dr. Wright is not Satoshi Nakamoto and is not the creator of Bitcoin.” However, a final decision formally deeming these claims false has yet to be completed and published. .
Nonetheless, Judge Mellor granted a worldwide freezing order (WFO) worth £6 million ($7.6 million) against Wright’s assets, in response to COPA’s request. According to the filing, the costs of the trial totaled just over £6.7 million ($8.45 million).
The judgment on the application indicated that, as is customary, a hearing is scheduled after the trial judgment is finalised “at which the remaining relief sought, including costs, will be determined”.
However, Mr Justice Mellor held that issuing judgment on the WFO application first was necessary to prevent Wright from evading court costs.
Concerns about payment of trial costs
Due to the short notice period between the WFO application and the hearing, Wright's legal team was "unable to make any decision on the application other than a very brief observation".
However, COPA "rightly anticipated this and made the WFO application to me without prior notice, thus properly recognizing their obligation to make full and candid disclosure."
At the hearing, COPA presented enough evidence to raise concerns about Wright's intention to pay damages after the trial. Some of the Australian computer scientist's actions on March 18 caused alarm.
On the Monday after the trial, Wright submitted a form notifying the Registrar of Companies that shares in his company RCJBR Holding had been transferred to DeMorgan PTE, a company organized under Singapore law.
The decision led COPA to believe Wright may take steps to move his assets offshore and "seek to escape the costs and consequences of losing at trial."
In addition, Judge Mellor considered White's "history of default" in relation to orders to pay the money and his record of lying. According to the judgment, "COPA is entitled to a substantial sum of costs... I believe there is a real risk of asset loss."#比特币创作权 #英国
