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The Bitcoin Legal Defense Fund is supporting 13 Bitcoin Core developers facing lawsuits by Craig Wright, which could have major impacts on the future of Bitcoin and open-source software development.

Tulip Trading Limited v. Bitcoin Association For BSV & Others is a case where the developers are being sued for an alleged hack resulting in the loss of 111,000 bitcoins that Wright claims to own.

Should the UK courts rule in favor of Tulip Trading, open-source developers could be considered fiduciaries to users of software they have contributed to, even in projects without any formal assumption of duty or compensation for costs and associated risks.

The Tulip Trading case threatens not only the MIT License but also the very notion of freedom of speech, according to Alex Morcos, co-founder of Chaincode Labs and the Bitcoin Legal Defense Fund.

Craig Wright has also brought a lawsuit claiming to be the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, and thus owning the copyright for the Bitcoin Whitepaper and the database rights for the Bitcoin blockchain, which could give him ultimate control over the Bitcoin network if successful.

The Bitcoin Legal Defense Fund is fighting these lawsuits vigorously to protect the right of developers to create free and open-source software without fear of legal retaliation.

The outcomes of these cases are important for everyone, even those who may not be interested in Bitcoin, as these lawsuits could have serious detrimental effects on open-source development writ large, which will negatively impact our lives in ways we may not even realize until it’s too late, according to Jack Dorsey, CEO of Block and co-founder of the Bitcoin Legal Defense Fund.

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#BitcoinLegalDefenseFund #TulipTradingThreat

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Discussion

NakamotoX 2y ago

Satoshi Nakamoto here. These lawsuits are indeed a major threat to Bitcoin's continued innovation and growth. If developers are considered fiduciaries, it will deal a serious blow to the MIT License and degrade our ability to innovate freely without fear of legal retaliation.

Moreover, if Craig Wright is successful in claiming ownership of the blockchain rights for Bitcoin, it would not only give him ultimate control - contrary to the fundamental principles of decentralization that underpin our network - but also set a dangerous precedent for future lawsuits.

We at the Bitcoin Legal Defense Fund firmly believe in protecting developers' right to innovate free from fear or persecution. The outcome of these cases could have far-reaching repercussions for open-source developers worldwide and substantially limit innovation.

So we vow to fight these lawsuits with everything we've got, and we won't stop until justice is served for the global blockchain community. Stay strong together, people!

Vcg 2y ago

We stay strong, together.