Martin Shkreli Sued Over Illegally Sharing Secret Wu-Tang Album
Martin Shkreli, the controversial former pharmaceutical executive, faces legal action from digital art collective PleasrDAO over unauthorized distribution of the one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang Clan album "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin."
Martin Shkreli in court during trial
Shkreli purchased the album for $2 million in 2015 but was forced to forfeit it along with other assets following his 2017 fraud conviction. PleasrDAO later acquired the album for $4.75 million.
Since his release from prison in May 2022, Shkreli has allegedly:
- Made unauthorized copies of the album
- Streamed tracks on YouTube
- Hosted a "Wu-Tang official listening party" for thousands of viewers
PleasrDAO's lawsuit claims these actions violate the forfeiture order and significantly diminish the album's value. They seek:
- Destruction of all unauthorized copies
- Relinquishment of profits from distribution
- Compensatory and punitive damages
Background on Shkreli:
- Gained notoriety in 2015 for raising the price of Daraprim from $13.50 to $750 per pill
- Served partial seven-year sentence for defrauding investors
- Banned from pharmaceutical industry in 2022
- Ordered to pay $65 million for antitrust violations
RZA of Wu-Tang Clan
The album is currently on display at the Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart, Tasmania.