American investor Martin Shkreli is once again in the legal spotlight, this time for allegedly copying and sharing recordings from the unique Wu-Tang Clan album, “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin.” The album, which Shkreli was compelled to sell following his 2017 securities fraud conviction, has become the center of a new lawsuit filed by PleasrDAO, a cryptocurrency collective that purchased the album for $4.75 million.
The lawsuit, filed in Brooklyn federal court, accuses Shkreli of retaining digital copies of the album and distributing them widely among his social media followers. PleasrDAO points to Shkreli’s recent social media activity, where he boasted about sharing the album’s recordings with “thousands of people.” Over the weekend, Shkreli even hosted a livestream on X, which he dubbed a “Wu-Tang official listening party,” during which he played portions of the album.
Shkreli has not responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit. This legal action marks the latest chapter in the saga of an album that was created as a protest against the devaluation of music in the streaming era. The Wu-Tang Clan auctioned off the album in 2015, and it was later purchased by Shkreli, who became infamous for drastically increasing the price of a life-saving drug and adopting the “Pharma Bro” persona.
Following his conviction, Shkreli was forced to sell the album, which was packaged in a hand-crafted silver and nickel case and included a 174-page leather-bound book. PleasrDAO acquired the physical copy and its digital rights in two transactions, in 2021 and 2024. They believed that Shkreli had destroyed any remaining digital files of the album.
The lawsuit claims that any public dissemination of the album’s music significantly diminishes its value and damages PleasrDAO’s reputation and ability to commercially exploit the album. As of last month, the album was set to be featured at Australia’s Museum of Old and New Art, which planned to host private listening sessions of select tracks.
Shkreli’s actions have not gone unnoticed. In a YouTube video from May, he claimed to have “burned the album and sent it to like, 50 different chicks,” and later posted on X about potentially releasing a torrent of the album. He also played the album during a “Spaces” session on X, which was attended by an estimated 4,900 listeners.
PleasrDAO is seeking a court order to compel Shkreli to destroy any remaining copies of the album and forfeit any profits he may have made from sharing it. They are also asking for compensatory and punitive damages.
Shkreli, however, appears unfazed by the lawsuit. After PleasrDAO posted about the complaint on X, Shkreli responded dismissively, claiming that PleasrDAO members did not support the litigation and expressing confidence that the lawsuit would fail.
The Wu-Tang Clan has not commented on the lawsuit, and representatives for the group did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The legal battle comes just days before the Museum of Old and New Art in Tasmania, Australia, is set to open an exhibition featuring “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin.” The exhibit will run from June 15 through 24, with 30-minute listening sessions offered twice a day.
This latest development adds another layer of complexity to the story of an album that has been shrouded in controversy since its creation. As the legal proceedings unfold, the fate of the album and its unique place in music history remain uncertain.
