Representing a significant development in the unusual story of Craig Wright, the self-proclaimed creator of Bitcoin, Mellor J has handed down judgments finding Wright to be in contempt of court (see here) and pronouncing a suspended one-year sentence in prison (see here).

These latest proceedings arose out a claim issued by Wright against Crypto Open Patent Alliance (“COPA”) and others for damages of £911 billion, asserting various intellectual property rights in Bitcoin (and a cause of action in promissory estoppel). This was in spite of wide-ranging anti-suit and anti-threat injunctions in relation to such proceedings that had been granted against Wright following findings earlier this year that Wright’s claims to being the creator of Bitcoin were based on extensive lies and forgery (see here).

Following COPA’s application, Mellor J found that Wright had brought this claim in “flagrant” breach of the injunctive relief outlined above and that each of the five grounds of contempt alleged by COPA was accordingly made out. Mellor J not only sentenced Wright on this basis, but also struck out the entirety of his claim.

Jonathan Moss appeared for COPA in the above proceedings, led by Jonathan Hough KC of 4 New Square.