Martin Shkreli Sued Over Sharing Secret Wu-Tang Album Copies Online

Martin Shkreli Sued Over Sharing Secret Wu-Tang Album Copies Online

By Marcus Stevenson

December 3, 2024 at 11:48 PM

PleasrDAO, a digital art collective, is suing Martin Shkreli in New York over the unauthorized distribution of Wu-Tang Clan's unique album "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin." The lawsuit comes after Shkreli allegedly shared MP3 copies of the album he previously owned.

Martin Shkreli in court during trial

Martin Shkreli in court during trial

The album, originally purchased by Shkreli for $2 million in 2015, was forfeited following his 2017 fraud conviction. PleasrDAO later acquired it for $4.75 million. Since his release from prison in May 2022, Shkreli has reportedly broadcasted the album publicly, including during a "Wu-Tang official listening party" livestream that attracted thousands of viewers.

According to PleasrDAO's complaint, Shkreli's actions violate the forfeiture order and significantly diminish the album's value. The collective seeks:

  • Destruction of all unauthorized copies
  • Relinquishment of profits from the music's distribution
  • Compensatory and punitive damages

Shkreli, known as "Pharma Bro" for dramatically increasing the price of the drug Daraprim while CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals, was released early from his seven-year sentence but remains under supervised release. In 2022, he was banned from the pharmaceutical industry and ordered to pay nearly $65 million for antitrust violations.

RZA of Wu-Tang Clan

RZA of Wu-Tang Clan

The album is currently on display at the Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart, Tasmania.

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