In March, Newsweek came roaring back to the print world with a tech-themed cover story. The publication said it had discovered "the face behind Bitcoin"—an unemployed engineer living an unassuming life in a Los Angeles suburb.

Within days of publication, critics began pointing out that the magazine's case that Dorian Nakamoto was actually Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto was based on circumstantial evidence. The 65-year-old Dorian Nakamoto, who has no background in cryptography at all, denied the story after it was published. Newsweek and author Leah McGrath Goodman did not apologize and instead doubled down on their thesis, putting out a statement that "the facts as reported point toward Mr. Nakamoto's role in the founding of Bitcoin."

Now, Nakamoto and his lawyer Ethan Kirschner have made clear they'd like to sue Newsweek over the story—but they need more money to do it. The two have created a website called "Newsweek Lied," which lays out their grievances and features a photo of Dorian Nakamoto holding a sign saying "Newsweek's article hurt my family."

"Newsweek terrorized Mr. Nakamoto," Kirschner told Ars. "Goodman showed up at his house, scared his elderly mother, obtained his e-mail address by deception, and misquoted or invented quotes from both him and his brothers. They published his health, financial, and employment history recklessly. They need to account for what they did."

Many attorneys will take plaintiffs' cases on a contingent-fee basis, but in this case, Kirschner says a fundraiser is needed. "Dorian has nothing," he said. "There will be no lawsuit without the help of those in the public who think Dorian has been wronged and Newsweek acted recklessly. These lawsuits are too expensive and complicated to take on without asking for other people's help."

The "Newsweek Lied" page reiterates that Nakamoto knew nothing of Bitcoin until his son mentioned it to him shortly before the publication of Goodman's article. In an AP video interview, he mispronounces it, calling it "bitcom" and later saying he "never communicated with bitcoins."

Nakamoto claimed in a conversation with Forbes' Kashmir Hill that Goodman "invented an entirely new conversation that did not occur" when she said, "I told him, 'You’re acknowledging Bitcoin and if you weren’t involved you need to tell me now.' He said, 'I cannot do that.'"

Kirschner said that Nakamoto sent a formal request for a retraction, pointing out 16 factual errors and incorrect quotes, but the magazine ignored it.

Severe distress

Kirschner wouldn't say exactly what the claims he intends to make against Newsweek are. A successful defamation claim requires damages, and it's not obvious how incorrectly naming someone as an inventive genius would hurt them. The "background" page of the Newsweek Lied site does seem to lay some groundwork for that.

It notes that Bitcoin is "illegal in some countries and under intensive investigation by the FBI." Furthermore, if Goodman's conclusion were true, "it would have meant that Dorian lived a double life, making a practice of lying, for a decade or longer" to his closest family members. The site adds:

Dorian suffered a stroke in October 2013. His recovery is ongoing. He is separated from his wife, lives with his 93-year-old mother, and has been unemployed as an engineer for at least ten years. Though he continues to look for work, he is experiencing "severe financial distress," in his own words and has significant trouble meeting his basic needs. He cancelled his Internet service in 2013 because he couldn't afford it. Dorian's family was confused by Newsweek's article. He and his brothers were misquoted. In some cases, words were attributed to them that were never said. In the chaos, his mother believed that the authorities were planning on removing her from her home to put her in a care facility. His estranged wife and children were alienated by the story, which portrayed a person and situation different from their understanding of their husband and father.

The Bitcoin community raised about $23,000 to help Dorian, and the site states that "he is extremely grateful for this gesture." The Legal Defense Fund is a "separate effort, authorized and endorsed by Dorian, to raise money to hold Newsweek accountable for their article."

The webpage posts a complaint filed against Goodman in 2011, when she was sued for defamation by an energy trader over statements in her book The Asylum: The Renegades Who Hijacked the World's Oil Market.

Goodman didn't respond to a request for comment on this story.

"Dorian is still looking for employment," said Kirschner. "He is still struggling to meet his basic needs on a daily basis. He lives precariously."

Kirschner said he'll announce how much is raised at a future time. The site accepts donations in Bitcoin.