header-logo header-logo

A Bit-ter dispute: libel claims & lis pendens

21 April 2021 / Valya Georgieva , Jeremy Clarke-Williams
Issue: 7929 / Categories: Features , Defamation , Cyber
printer mail-detail
46642
Valya Georgieva & Jeremy Clarke-Williams consider the landmark Court of Appeal decision on lis pendens under the Lugano Convention in a Bitcoin libel dispute
  • Lis pendens doctrine applied in global defamation claims.
  • Criteria for determining whether parallel proceedings involve the same cause of action under Art 27 of the Lugano Convention.

Bitcoin continues its roller-coaster ride after recently hitting a new record high of US$64,000. Aside from the growing cryptoeconomy, the increasing buy-in from institutional investors and the increasing scope of cryptocurrency regulation, one other factor that has the potential to affect the price of cryptocurrency is the disclosure of the identity of Bitcoin’s mysterious inventor, Satoshi Nakamoto (Satoshi).

Since 2016 (seven years after the creation of Bitcoin), Craig Wright (Dr Wright), an Australian computer scientist and businessman, has claimed to be Satoshi, a statement doubted by many in the crypto world.

In January 2021, the Court of Appeal handed down its judgment in the case of Craig Wright v Magnus Granath

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Clarke Willmott—Declan Goodwin & Elinor Owen

Clarke Willmott—Declan Goodwin & Elinor Owen

Corporate and commercial teams in Cardiff boosted by dual partner hire

Hill Dickinson—Joz Coetzer & Marc Naidoo

Hill Dickinson—Joz Coetzer & Marc Naidoo

London hires to lead UK launch of international finance team

Switalskis—11 promotions

Switalskis—11 promotions

Firm marks start of year with firmwide promotions round

NEWS
Property lawyers have given a cautious welcome to the government’s landmark Bill capping ground rents at £250, banning new leasehold properties and making it easier for leaseholders to switch to commonhold
Four Nightingale courts are to be made permanent, as justice ministers continue to grapple with the record-level Crown Court backlog
The judiciary has set itself a trio of objectives and a trio of focus areas for the next five years, in its Judicial Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2026-2030

The Sentencing Act 2026 received royal assent last week, bringing into law the recommendations of David Gauke’s May 2025 Independent Sentencing Review

Victims of crime are to be given free access to transcripts of Crown Court sentencing remarks, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has confirmed
back-to-top-scroll