Current:Home > ScamsJudge orders Martin Shkreli to turn over all copies of unreleased Wu-Tang Clan album-InfoLens
Judge orders Martin Shkreli to turn over all copies of unreleased Wu-Tang Clan album
View Date:2024-12-23 15:27:45
NEW YORK (AP) — Martin Shkreli, once dubbed “Pharma Bro” for boosting the price of a life-saving drug, was ordered by a federal judge Monday to turn over all copies of Wu-Tang Clan’s unreleased “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” album to his lawyers by Friday.
Judge Pamela K. Chen in Brooklyn wrote that Shkreli must produce all copies of what is sometimes referred to as the world’s rarest album and report the names of anyone he distributed the music to by Sept. 30, along with any revenues he received from it.
In June, Shkreli was sued by a cryptocurrency collective that bought the only known copy of the album for $4.75 million.
The collective, PleasrDAO, accused Shkreli of retaining digital copies of the album in violation of their deal and disseminating them widely among his social media followers.
PleasrDAO attorney Steven Cooper said in a statement that Chen’s ruling was “an important victory for our client.”
He added: “We are pleased that Judge Chen recognized that immediate relief was necessary to thwart the continuing bad acts of Mr. Shkreli.”
Edward Paltzik, a lawyer for Shkreli, said in an email that the judge’s order maintained “the perceived status quo” of the lawsuit’s progression and has “no bearing whatsoever on the final outcome of the case.”
He also noted that the judge did not make a finding that PleasrDAO was likely to succeed on the merits or that its allegations were true.
The Wu-Tang Clan spent six years creating “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” before putting a single copy of the 31-track double album up for auction in 2015 on the condition that it not be released publicly. The multiplatinum hip-hop group wanted it viewed as a piece of contemporary art.
Shkreli bought the album for $2 million before he was convicted of lying to investors and cheating them out of millions of dollars in two failed hedge funds he operated.
In 2021, “Once Upon a Time is Shaolin” was sold to satisfy some of Shkreli’s court debts.
Shkreli was released from prison in 2022 after serving much of a seven-year sentence.
veryGood! (138)
Related
- Reese Witherspoon's Daughter Ava Phillippe Introduces Adorable New Family Member
- FBI: Man wearing Captain America backpack stole items from senators’ desks during Capitol riot
- Jets begin Aaron Rodgers’ 21-day practice window in next step in recovery from torn Achilles tendon
- 2023 National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony: How to watch the 101st celebration live
- Relive Pregnant Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly's Achingly Beautiful Romance
- MLS, EPL could introduce 'sin bins' to punish players, extend VAR involvement
- Young activists who won Montana climate case want to stop power plant on Yellowstone River
- Jan. 6 suspect who later fired a gun toward Texas officers gets 2 years for firearm charge
- Reese Witherspoon's Daughter Ava Phillippe Introduces Adorable New Family Member
- Sewage spill closes 2-mile stretch of coastline at Southern California’s Laguna Beach
Ranking
- Love Actually Secrets That Will Be Perfect to You
- Riley the dog gets his final holiday wish: One last Christmas with his family
- FC Cincinnati's Matt Miazga suspended by MLS for three games for referee confrontation
- Aaron Rodgers cleared for return to practice, opening window for possible Jets comeback
- Prominent conservative lawyer Ted Olson, who argued Bush recount and same-sex marriage cases, dies
- Video of rich kid beating parking guard outrages Mexico, already plagued by class divisions
- Weather experts in Midwest say climate change reporting brings burnout and threats
- Coal-producing West Virginia is converting an entire school system to solar power
Recommendation
-
NFL overreactions: New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys going nowhere after Week 10
-
When stars are on stage, this designer makes it personal for each fan in the stadium
-
'Sex and the City' star Cynthia Nixon goes on hunger strike to call for cease-fire in Gaza
-
How one Oregon entrepreneur is trying to sell marijuana out of state, legally
-
Jon Gruden joins Barstool Sports three years after email scandal with NFL
-
Protein bars recalled after hairnet and shrink wrap found in products
-
Bachelor Nation's Tyler Cameron Earns a Rose for Gift Giving With These Holiday Picks
-
Truce in Gaza extended at last minute as talks over dwindling number of Hamas captives get tougher