diff --git a/_posts/2021-01-21-regarding-csw.md b/_posts/2021-01-21-regarding-csw.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..375b2c12 --- /dev/null +++ b/_posts/2021-01-21-regarding-csw.md @@ -0,0 +1,34 @@ +--- +# This file is licensed under the MIT License (MIT) available on +# http://opensource.org/licenses/MIT. + +type: posts +layout: post +category: blog + +title: "Regarding CSW and the Bitcoin Whitepaper" +permalink: /en/posts/regarding-csw.html +date: 2021-01-21 +author: | + Cøbra +--- + +Yesterday both Bitcoin.org and Bitcoincore.org received allegations of copyright infringement of the Bitcoin whitepaper by lawyers +representing Craig Steven Wright. In this letter, they claim Craig owns the copyright to the paper, the Bitcoin name, and +ownership of bitcoin.org. They also claim he is Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, and the original owner +of bitcoin.org. Bitcoin.org and Bitcoincore.org were both asked to take down the whitepaper. We believe these claims are without merit, and refuse +to do so. + +Unfortunately, without consulting us, Bitcoin Core developers scrambled to remove the Bitcoin whitepaper from bitcoincore.org, +in response to these allegations of copyright infringement, lending credence to these false claims. The Bitcoin Core website was modified +to remove references to the whitepaper, their local copy of the whitepaper PDF was deleted, and with less than 2 hours of public review, [this change was merged](https://github.com/bitcoin-core/bitcoincore.org/pull/740). +By surrendering in this way, the Bitcoin Core project has lent ammunition to Bitcoin's enemies, engaged in self-censorship, and compromised its integrity. This surrender will no +doubt be weaponized to make new false claims, like that the Bitcoin Core developers "know" CSW to be Satoshi Nakamoto and this is why they acted in this way. + +The Bitcoin whitepaper was included in the original [Bitcoin project files](https://web.archive.org/web/20091127010808/http://sourceforge.net/projects/bitcoin/files/) +with the project clearly [published under the MIT license](https://web.archive.org/web/20091129231620/https://sourceforge.net/projects/bitcoin/) by Satoshi Nakamoto. We believe there is +no doubt we have the legal right to host the Bitcoin whitepaper. Furthermore, Satoshi Nakamoto has a known [PGP public key](https://bitcoin.org/satoshinakamoto.asc), therefore it is +cryptographically possible for someone to verify themselves to be Satoshi Nakamoto. Unfortunately, Craig has been unable to do this. + +We will continue hosting the Bitcoin whitepaper and won't be silenced or intimidated. Others hosting the whitepaper should follow our +lead in resisting these false allegations.