header-logo header-logo

15 July 2020 / Jeremy Clarke-Williams , Valya Georgieva
Issue: 7895 / Categories: Features , Bitcoin , Defamation
printer mail-detail

The Crypto Factor

24272
Valya Georgieva & Jeremy Clarke-Williams investigate jurisdiction, lis pendens & the greatest mystery in the crypto world

In brief

  • Lis pendens doctrine applied in defamation claim.
  • No inviolable right to sue in UK where Lugano Convention applies.
  • Factors that make a country ‘clearly the most appropriate’ jurisdiction.

‘Bitcoin is the world’s first decentralised cryptocurrency. The concept and technology behind Bitcoin was first published in October 2008 when its pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, sent the now famous protocol to a mailing list of cryptography enthusiasts. That protocol has since spawned a system of value and exchange with a current market cap of $150 billion.’

Thus begins the complaint of Ira Kleiman, the personal representative of the Estate of Dave Kleiman, against Craig Wright, filed in the Southern District of Florida in February 2018. The lawsuit concerns the ownership of hundreds of thousands of bitcoin and the intellectual property rights associated with certain blockchain technology.

Craig Wright is an Australian computer scientist and businessman. Since 2016,

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

EIP—Stuart Malcolm

EIP—Stuart Malcolm

EIP strengthens Commercial practice with a new partner

Ellisons—Francesca Brown

Ellisons—Francesca Brown

Ellisons welcomes Francesca Brown to Family team

Shakespeare Martineau—Marie Bourke

Shakespeare Martineau—Marie Bourke

Shakespeare Martineau strengthens Sheffield regulatory practice with new hires

NEWS
A wide-ranging Civil Way column highlights developments from insolvency procedure to employment law, but one case stands out for its lessons on bankruptcy, family homes and digital communications
A sprawling Intellectual Property Office battle between House of Fraser and Frasers Property has delivered a masterclass in modern trade mark law
Courts in England and Wales and Singapore are increasingly confronting complex disputes over international child relocation as families become more globally mobile
The government’s long-awaited family law reform consultation could mark a turning point for domestic abuse victims navigating financial remedy proceedings, but significant challenges remain
A new commercial court pilot giving the public access to documents used in hearings, including expert reports, is raising difficult questions about transparency and privacy
back-to-top-scroll