According to the Associated Press, a judge has ordered Martin Shkreli to hand over all copies of the rare Wu-Tang Clan album “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” to his lawyers.
The directive came as part of an ongoing lawsuit with cryptocurrency collective PleasrDAO, which purchased the album for $4.75 million and alleged that Shkreli breached the agreement by keeping and distributing digital copies. According to According to the Associated Press, Judge Pamela K. Chen in Brooklyn ordered Shkreli to disclose all income from the album and provide a list of individuals to whom he has distributed his music by September 30.
Judge orders 'Pharmabro' Martin Shkreli to turn over all copies of unreleased Wu-Tang Clan album https://t.co/MwKyOKo37A
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) August 26, 2024
The media reported that the decision is intended to prevent further unauthorized actions by Shkreli regarding the Wu-Tang Clan album, which was created as a contemporary work of art and was not intended to be released to the public. PleasrDAO's lawyer, Steven Cooper, spoke about his client's victory.
“We are pleased that Judge Chen recognized that immediate relief is necessary to stop Mr. Shkreli's evil conduct,” Cooper said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. Shkreli's lawyers noted that the ruling does not predict the ultimate outcome of the case, but merely maintains the status quo in the case. (Related: “Maybe it's a lizard man, maybe it's not”: Ex-CEO tells Tucker that “joke” about Hillary Clinton was “misunderstood”)
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 4: Former pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli takes a breather during a press conference after a jury returned a verdict in Shkreli's case in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on August 4, 2017. (Photo by Drew Ungerer/Getty Images)
According to the Associated Press, Shkreli, who gained notoriety for dramatically increasing the prices of life-saving drugs, bought the album in 2015 before he was convicted on securities fraud charges linked to two hedge funds he ran. The album was sold in 2021 to help cover his legal costs after his conviction. Shkreli was released in 2022 after serving most of his seven-year sentence.
