Martin Shkreli Has To Give Up His Copies of Wu-Tang Clan ‘Once Upon A Time in Shaolin’

The Wu-Tang Clan’s album, “Once Upon A Time in Shaolin,” which is currently owned by PleasrDAO was once owned by convicted pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli. PleasrDAO has successfully sued Shkreli after accusing him of keeping unauthorized copies of the album and distributing it without the company’s permission.

According to ArtNet, in a case before Judge Pamela Chen in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, she has ruled that Shkreli has to turn over all copies of the rare album that is in his possession. He is also forbidden from streaming or disseminating copies of “Once Upon A Time in Shaolin.”

“Today’s ruling by the court is an important victory for our client PleasrDAO, who owns the exclusive rights to the one-of-a-kind-Wu-Tang Clan album,” Steven Cooper, an attorney for PleasrDAO said in a written statement.

Judge Chen has ordered Shrekli to hand over all copies of the album to his attorney within one week. He must also provide an affidavit confirming that he has handed it over to his lawyer. Within 30 days, Shrkeli should also provide a list of all copies of the album, who he gave copies to, and how much money he made from the album.

In 2015, Shkreli bought the Wu-Tang Clan album for $2 million at an auction. After he was arrested and then convicted of securities fraud in 2017, the government seized the album, along with other property he owned. In 2021, PleasrDAO allegedly bought the album from the government for $4 million.

The company sued Shkreli in June alleging that he had streamed the music during a “Wu-Tang Official Listening Party” after he was released from prison in May 2022. He told his followers that he made copies of the album which were “hidden in safes all around the world.”

Forbes reported in June that hip-hop fans can purchase an NFT of the Wu-Tang Clan album for $1. Fans can access the album for $1 and hear a five-minute sampler. PleasrDAO stated that cryptocurrency is not required to purchase the NFT.

Martin Shkreli Has To Give Up His Copies of Wu-Tang Clan ‘Once Upon A Time in Shaolin’