A US federal judge has ordered Martin Shkreli, known as ‘Pharma Bro’, to surrender all copies of the ultra-rare Wu-Tang Clan album ‘Once Upon a Time in Shaolin’. This ruling comes after the album’s current owner, the digital collective PleasrDAO, claimed that Shkreli had unauthorized copies of the album and distributed them without permission.
The one-of-a-kind album was initially sold in 2015 through an online auction site, Paddle8. The Wu-Tang Clan, in an attempt to create a new model for supporting music, sold the album as a piece of artwork. Shkreli, known for his controversial pharmaceutical pricing practices, purchased the album for $2 million. However, years later, he was arrested and convicted of criminal fraud, leading to the album’s seizure by the US government.
After his release from prison, Shkreli made headlines again when he streamed a copy of the album on social media, claiming to have hidden copies in safes around the world. This prompted PleasrDAO, who acquired the album after its release from government custody, to seek legal action against Shkreli.
In the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Judge Pamela Chan ruled in favor of PleasrDAO, issuing a preliminary injunction against Shkreli. The injunction not only orders him to turn over all copies of the album but also prohibits him from possessing, using, disseminating, or selling any interests in the album, including its data and files. Furthermore, Shkreli must provide a detailed inventory of all copies he has retained, identify those he distributed, and disclose any revenue generated from the album.
This ruling is a significant victory for PleasrDAO, who now hold exclusive rights to the unique Wu-Tang Clan album. The judge has given Shkreli one week to surrender all copies of the album to his attorney and provide an affidavit confirming the return. Within 30 days, he must provide a full accounting of the album’s distribution and any financial benefits he gained from it.
The court’s action reflects the seriousness of Shkreli’s alleged unauthorized distribution of the rare album. This case highlights the legal challenges associated with the ownership and distribution of unique, limited-edition artistic works in the digital age.
