In a momentous development for the Bitcoin community, the original Bitcoin whitepaper has once again become accessible on the Bitcoin.org website. This milestone comes after a series of legal battles involving Craig Wright, who had claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin.
Wright’s failure to substantiate his claims in court resulted in the reinstatement of the whitepaper, which had been taken down due to a copyright lawsuit he had filed.
The Legal Struggle Over Bitcoin’s Founding Document
The controversy began when Wright filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in 2021 against the operators of Bitcoin.org, led by the pseudonymous figure Cøbra. Wright asserted that he was the author of the groundbreaking document, leading to a court order that forced the site to remove the whitepaper from view in the UK.
Despite an initial legal victory for Wright, his claim to being Satoshi Nakamoto, and thus to the copyright of the Bitcoin whitepaper, was severely weakened in subsequent legal proceedings.
The turning point in the legal battle came when a UK High Court ruled in March 2024 that Craig Wright was not Satoshi Nakamoto. The judgment was scathing, with the judge noting that Wright had used technical jargon and had lied extensively throughout the case.
This ruling paved the way for the return of the Bitcoin whitepaper to Bitcoin.org, a move celebrated by the site’s current maintainer, Hennadii Stepanov, who shared the news on X (formerly Twitter).
bitcoin.pdf is back on Bitcoin Core’s domain
https://t.co/rGnLOXrSvc
— Norbert ⚡️ (@bitnorbert)
May 23, 2024
During the legal disputes, the global crypto community stood in solidarity for the open access to the Bitcoin whitepaper. Despite Wright’s claims and legal actions, various entities, from tech giants like Square to governments in the US, Estonia, and Colombia, hosted the document.
Additionally, an individual compiled a list of over 100 websites that continued to publish the whitepaper as a form of protest against Wright’s aggressive stance.
Impact on Bitcoin.org and Crypto Advocacy
The reinstatement of the Bitcoin whitepaper on Bitcoin.org is more than just a procedural update; it signifies a triumph for transparency and the decentralized values of the cryptocurrency community.
This outcome not only reaffirms the whitepaper’s status as a public domain work but also underscores the significance of maintaining open access to foundational crypto texts. It serves as a testament to the community’s resilience and its dedication to resisting censorship.
As Bitcoin progresses, the mystery surrounding the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto remains captivating and distinct from the practical and philosophical advancements of Bitcoin itself. The re-upload of the Bitcoin whitepaper signifies a return to these fundamental principles and ideals that have propelled Bitcoin from an obscure digital experiment to a prominent financial asset.
The saga surrounding its copyright has not only pushed the legal boundaries of digital copyright and identity but also reinforced the collective spirit of the crypto community in upholding the principles of decentralization and accessibility.