By CCN: We previously reported on Craig Wright’s legal actions against Peter McCormack, host of the What Bitcoin Did podcast. Wright claims McCormack engaged in libel by calling him a “fraud” for claiming to be Satoshi Nakamoto. McCormack has received his second notice from Wright’s legal team, which claims in part that the podcaster failed to acknowledge the suit against him properly.
The following is the latest letter from his solicitors of Craig Wright. Based on the copyright news yesterday, it is very clear their game plan.
I have until Friday to make a decision. Not contesting this is an option but in no way will I read a statement in court as they want. pic.twitter.com/Gwulw4Smok
— Dr. Peter McCormack (@PeterMcCormack) May 22, 2019
Bitcoin Podcaster Stands Ground Against Craig Wright’s Legal Threats
McCormack had previously sent a letter to the law firm, stating that he was fully prepared to defend his claim. He also doubled-down on that claim.
My formal response to the letter issued by the lawyers of Craig Wright and @CalvinAyre. This was sent today. We look forward to resolving this quickly and efficiently. pic.twitter.com/ANSmF1kH8k
— Dr. Peter McCormack (@PeterMcCormack) April 14, 2019
The new letter from Wright’s lawyers describes a few scenarios. In one of them, McCormack has to back down and say in a UK court that he committed libel against Wright when he alleged that Wright wasn’t Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto.
“In the event that he obtains [an order of default judgment], our client will be entitled to apply to the court for […] an order permitting a statement to be read in open court. In that statement our client would seek to vindicate his reputation publicly by explaining that you libeled him. The statement will refer to what you said about our client, namely that he falsely and fraudulently claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto; and will explain that this was untrue. It will also refer to any award damages that the court makes against you.”
Call Me ‘Satoshi,’ Baby!
The letter continues to say that Wright would prefer not to have a default judgment. In the belief that he can convince a court he is, in fact, Satoshi Nakamoto, Wright wishes for McCormack to defend his claims that Wright is a fraud.
“[Craig Wright] wishes to achieve proper vindication by refuting [Peter McCormack’s] claims that he has lied about his role in creating bitcoin.”
Wright recently registered a copyright claim for the Bitcoin whitepaper and much of its early code. Experts have opined that this will make no considerable impact on the current state of Bitcoin development.
McCormack’s supporters and Bitcoin aficionados generally have been none too pleased with Wright’s ligation against people who doubt his identity as Satoshi Nakamoto. The several lawsuits have already led to Bitcoin SV being delisted from several cryptocurrency exchanges. Its remaining exchanges saw a large-scale pump this week when news of Wright’s copyright registration broke.
I hereby challenge Craig Wright to a bare knuckle boxing match. Loser pays the winner 1 BTC. Craig do you accept my challenge? Now will someone please broadcast this challenge far and wide? Thanks, John Barrett Host of Bitcoins and Gravy Nashville, Tennessee
— Bitcoins and Gravy (@BitcoinsNGravy) April 15, 2019
‘Let’s Go Get This Motherf***er!’
Since announcing the last letter from Wright’s lawyers, McCormack claims he will be well-represented.
RE: Craig Wright.
Sorry for the confusion. I have spoken with two of the top legal firms in the world this morning. I will instruct one within a week.
Let's go get this motherfucker!
— Dr. Peter McCormack (@PeterMcCormack) May 22, 2019
You can stand there and actually prove he isn't Satoshi. Declare (the factual truth) that you made all possible efforts to find anywhere a single fact proving that he is. You couldn't (factual truth). That's it – the scientific method.
— y virtual (@slr_coin) May 22, 2019
Many of the responses to McCormack’s tweet felt that because he hasn’t been more attentive to the case, he’s failing the crypto community broadly.
Appears to me like you're choosing to remain ignorant and defenseless by not making use of attorney. Not sure why you'd want to roll over and give Craig a win by default when plenty of folks are happy to help you fight.
— Jameson Lopp (@lopp) May 22, 2019
One user warned against failing to respond:
I would say it’s an option, but a company I owned was sued for discrimination and the case was so pathetic I chose the no response route. We were also closing that company so I didn’t care. Default judgement followed for $750,000. I laughed, threw it away and moved on. Be careful
— Mountains & Crypto (@SwoffardElk) May 22, 2019
Another pointed out that Craig Wright previously referred to Satoshi Nakamoto as another person altogether:
Currently, Craig Wright is involved in at least two court cases which might ultimately require him to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is Satoshi Nakamoto.
In the other, he is on the defense against claims by the estate of Dave Kleiman, which says he wrongly procured a massive horde of coins from Kleiman.
Calvin Ayre recently said that “more evidence” will be revealed at the CoinGeek Toronto conference at the end of this month. CCN will be on the scene.
