“Pharma bro” Martin Shkreli has been directed by a federal judge in Brooklyn to surrender any copies of the Wu-Tang Clan’s unique album, “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin,” as reported by Artnet.
Shkreli infamously bought the one-of-a-kind album from the legendary Staten Island rap group, Wu-Tang Clan, for $2 million in 2015. One of the conditions of the purchase was that he could not replicate it for at least 88 years due to copyright laws.
Following Shkreli’s conviction for securities fraud in 2018, the album was sold by the U.S. government to PleasrDAO, a collective specializing in NFTs, in 2021 for $4.75 million.
Related: ‘The Most Hated Man in America’ Where Is Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli Now?
PleasrDAO filed a lawsuit against Shkreli in June, claiming that he had been bragging online about sending CD copies of the album to various women. However, the purchase agreement explicitly prohibited reproduction, making this a breach if copies do exist.
“Earlier today, the United States sold the sole copy of the Wu-Tang Clan album ‘Once Upon a Time in Shaolin'” … forfeited by Martin Shkreli.
Photo of the album here. pic.com/fHcCjNuq88
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) July 27, 2021
According to the judge, Shkreli must provide a detailed report on any copies made, when they were made, to whom, their financial gains, and the identities of the recipients by September, as stated by PleasrDAO’s legal counsel, Steven Cooper.
Despite Shkreli’s claims online, including during a livestream where he hinted at hidden MP3 copies worldwide, no concrete evidence of these alleged copies has been found.
Related: Judge Permanently Bans ‘Chaotic’ and ‘Untrustworthy’ Martin Shkreli From Running Public Companies
