July 24, 2025

Bitcoin Bluff: Australian Man who Claimed he Invented Bitcoin is Found in Contempt of Court

As reported by AP News, an Australian computer scientist who falsely claimed to be the founder of bitcoin has been found to be in contempt of London’s High Court and given a suspended sentence of 12 months in prison.

Starting in 2016, Craig Wright claimed to be the man behind the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto persona, who mysteriously invented the world’s first and largest cryptocurrency and released it to the world by publishing the Bitcoin White Paper in 2008.

Despite consistent claims that he is Nakamoto, Wright has not been able to provide any evidence to support this assertion. Last March, the High Court ruled that Wright was not Satoshi, and ordered him to stop claiming that he was.

Wright continued asserting his intellectual property rights to Bitcoin and claimed that he was owed $1.2 trillion. In the High Court, Justice James Mellor held that Wright had committed a “clear breach” of the March order, and that it was “beyond any reasonable doubt” that Wright had been in contempt of court.

Author: Annie MacKinnon

Photo Credit: https://unsplash.com/@michael_f

Clients note, "Goodmans is Canada’s pre-eminent IP litigation practice. Hard-working, diligent and smart, you can count on the team to come prepared to any engagement.” — IAM Patent 1000
According to many, Goodmans LLP is ‘the leading IP litigation firm in Canada’, with its creativity, experience in high-stakes patent cases and impressive courtroom skills all recurring themes among clients. — The Legal 500 Canada
"There is likely no other IP litigation group in Canada that has appeared in as many patent hearings, trials and appeals than the Goodmans IP group." — The Legal 500 Canada
The “globally elite” Goodmans is “the number one firm in Canada by far and the IP department has been leading patent litigation in Canada for over three decades. The team is outstanding at every level and is known for its first-class advocacy and track record for success.” — IAM Patent 1000
Goodmans is the pinnacle of patent litigation in Canada. — Chambers Canada
Clients remark, "Goodmans IP practice is informed by its corporate and litigation practices and this gives the IP practice a practical, hands-on focus that helps drive successful solutions." — Legal 500 Canada
On the Intellectual Property group, interviewees say, "they have the largest team in Canada dedicated to intellectual property litigation. They have high-quality lawyers at all levels of practice, including some of the best in the industry." — Legal 500 Canada
Clients note, "Goodmans’ IP litigation team is, simply, the best in Canada. Its strategic expertise in litigation, and in the pharma space in particular, is invaluable to in-house counsel. These lawyers are worth every penny and more." — The Legal 500 Canada
Clients note, "Goodmans is at the high water mark of the Canadian IP Bar." — Chambers Canada
Clients commend Goodmans for our "very strong, knowledgeable and hard-working IP litigation team, with decades of experience." — Chambers Canada
Clients have noted, "The Goodmans team is strong at every level: they are expert strategists and outstanding trial lawyers." — Chambers Canada
Clients commend the “litigation team’s flawless work ethic, both in terms of form and substance, and savvy handling of complex disputes”. — IAM Patent 1000
A deep bench of IP litigators distinguishes Goodmans LLP from its competition — The Legal 500 Canada
According to clients, "if you're looking for the gold standard in litigation, Goodmans LLP is one of the best." — The Legal 500 Canada
Clients commend the team's "strong layer of partners with 10 to 20 years of practice who are seen as emerging leaders in IP litigation." — Chambers Global

Insights

IP Blog

July 09, 2026 Intellectual Property Litigation

Browsing for Trouble? Intuit Defends Synchronized Browser Patent Infringement Claim

Intuit Inc. (“Intuit”), the owner of accounting software, TurboTax, has reportedly successfully defended against a claim alleging that TurboTax’s co-browsing feature infringes a patent owned by…
IP Blog

June 25, 2026 Intellectual Property Litigation

CanLII and Caseway Reportedly Settle AI Copyright Dispute

As recently reported by Canadian Lawyer Magazine, CanLII has settled its copyright infringement action against AI-powered legal assistant, Caseway AI. The terms of the settlement are confidential, but…
IP Blog

June 23, 2026 Intellectual Property Litigation

Cut, Sew, but Don’t Sell: South Korea’s Supreme Court Clarifies Trademark Limits

As recently reported by Korea JoongAng Daily, South Korea’s Supreme Court (second division) has issued its first decision regarding whether “upcycling” or customizing branded luxury goods can amount…
Client Updates

June 08, 2026 Intellectual Property Litigation

Trademarks Opposition Board Moves to Digital-Only Submission of Confidential Information

As of June 1, 2026, the Trademarks Opposition Board (TMOB) requires all confidential evidence and documentation in proceedings under sections 11.13, 38, or 45 of the Trademarks Act (the “Act”) to be…
IP Blog

June 05, 2026 Intellectual Property Litigation

Kansas City Chiefs Stars Sued for Trademark Infringement Over Steakhouse

The sneaker company, 1587 Sneakers, is reportedly suing Kansas City Chiefs players, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, along with their restaurant partners, for trademark infringement.1587 Sneakers…
IP Blog

May 20, 2026 Intellectual Property Litigation

A Pecking Order Problem: Pudgy Penguins Faces Penguin Trademark Lawsuit

As reported by Bloomberg Law News, PEI Licensing (“PEI”), the owner of the Penguin apparel brand, has sued Pudgy Penguins NFT (“Pudgy Penguins”) for trademark infringement.Pudgy Penguins started as a…

View All Insights

Practices

Industries

Bitcoin Bluff: Australian Man who Claimed he Invented Bitcoin is Found in Contempt of Court

Emily Groper

Annie MacKinnon

Site Search

Bitcoin Bluff: Australian Man who Claimed he Invented Bitcoin is Found in Contempt of Court

Authors

Expertise

Insights