Judge Orders Martin Shkreli to Surrender All Copies of Unreleased Wu-Tang Clan Album

Martin Shkreli, the “Pharma Bro” who gained notoriety for significantly raising the price of a life-saving drug, has been ordered by a federal judge to surrender all copies of Wu-Tang Clan’s unreleased album “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” to his lawyers by this Friday.

Judge Pamela K. Chen, overseeing the case in Brooklyn, has instructed Shkreli to turn over any copies of the album, often called the world’s rarest, and to provide details of anyone he might have shared it with. Shkreli is also required to report any money he may have made from the album by September 30.

This legal action follows a lawsuit filed by PleasrDAO, a cryptocurrency collective that purchased the album’s only known physical copy for $4.75 million in 2021. The group claims that Shkreli retained digital copies and shared them online, breaching their agreement.

Steven Cooper, the lawyer for PleasrDAO, welcomed the judge’s decision, stating it was crucial to address Shkreli’s alleged actions. On the other hand, Shkreli’s attorney, Edward Paltzik, noted that the judge’s order doesn’t imply PleasrDAO is likely to win the case but simply maintains the current situation.

The Wu-Tang Clan spent six years creating “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin,” a 31-track double album that was auctioned off in 2015 with the condition that it not be publicly released. Shkreli bought the album for $2 million, but it was sold again in 2021 to help cover his court debts after his conviction for defrauding investors. Shkreli was released from prison in 2022 after serving most of his seven-year sentence.