Five years later, Apple removes Bitcoin white paper from Mac computers

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Five years since it was first inserted on Apple computers, and three years since it was first discovered, the Bitcoin white paper is being removed from MacBooks in the latest OS upgrade.

The white paper was hidden on the 2018 macOS Mojave and later versions under the title “simpledoc.pdf” and could be accessed through a Terminal command. It was first noticed in 2020 by a Mac user who shared his discovery on Twitter to little fanfare. A few weeks ago, tech journalist and ex-Kickstater CTO Andy Baio revived the news on Twitter and stirred widespread interest and quite a few misplaced conspiracy theories, including Steve Jobs being Satoshi Nakamoto.

Apple is now removing the white paper. Users running the macOS Ventura 13.4 beta report that alongside the white paper, the company has also removed the Virtual Scanner II app, which contained the PDF document. The app allowed Apple engineers to simulate scanning and exporting documents with the Image Capture app without needing a scanner.

While speculation has been rife that the white paper’s inclusion was deeply symbolic or that there was a Bitcoin enthusiast among Apple’s top brass, it’s more likely the engineers included the document for test purposes and that it was never meant to be found by ordinary Mac users.

By including the white paper on its computers, Apple was also running the risk of copyright infringement. Dr. Craig Wright even confirmed the infringement on Twitter but has not indicated whether he intends to take further action.

I think Apple maybe in breach of copyright. What say you @Dr_CSWright

— NAW (@nawBitbot) April 6, 2023

Steve Jobs is just the latest tech guru to be branded Satoshi at the slightest link to the smallest facet of Bitcoin. For Jobs, all it took to be conferred the title of Satoshi was the placing of the white paper on MacBooks, which was done seven years after his death.

It’s taken even less for others. Remember Dorian Nakamoto? Newsweek was quick to brand him as Satoshi even though he had never heard of Bitcoin until the outlet went after him. There are other Faketoshis that you can read about here.

All along, the world has ignored the obvious truth; that Dr. Craig Wright is Satoshi. The evidence is overwhelming, but since he doesn’t fit into the utopic godly figure many expect Satoshi to be, Dr. Wright remains the target of attacks.

CoinGeek Conversations with Dr. Craig Wright: On the very start of Bitcoin