Former pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli, known as “Pharma Bro,” has been ordered by a federal judge to surrender all copies of the ultra-rare unreleased 2015 Wu-Tang Clan album “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” and is banned from streaming any content from the record. The Wu-Tang Clan spent six years creating the album, which was sold to Shkreli for $2 million in 2015. However, after Shkreli’s 2021 securities fraud conviction, the album was forfeited and later bought by PleasrDAO, a cryptocurrency collective, for $4.75 million.
In June, PleasrDAO sued Shkreli for allegedly keeping and distributing digital copies of the album, in violation of their agreement. Judge Pamela H Chen has ordered Shkreli to surrender all copies of the album, report any distribution of the music, and provide details of any revenue received by September 30th. PleasrDAO’s attorney, Steven Cooper, called the ruling a significant victory and praised the judge for recognizing the need to stop Shkreli’s actions.
Shkreli’s attorney, Edward Paltzik, stated that the order has no impact on the final outcome of the case and did not determine the truth of PleasrDAO’s claims. Shkreli has previously streamed parts of the album online, violating the conditions of the sale, and has been barred from possessing, using, disseminating, or selling any interests in the album. The judge has required a detailed account of the album’s copies, access, and revenue. Shkreli has a history of controversial behavior, including raising drug prices and fraudulent activities, which have landed him in legal trouble in the past.
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