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Martin Shkreli is engaged in another legal battle involving Wu-Tang Clan's rare album, Once Upon A Time In Shaolin.
According to a report published by Complex on Tuesday, February 3, RZA and the album's producer Cilvaringz were named in a countersuit that the disgraced "Pharma Bro" filed against PleasrDAO. In a lawsuit the digital art collective filed in 2024, PleasrDAO alleged Shkreli copied and played Once Upon A Time In Shaolin online without permission. PleasrDAO previously purchased the album for $4 million after Shkreli forfeited it in 2017 as part of his sentence for committing securities fraud. Now, Shkreli claims RZA and Cilvaringz double sold the rights to the album.
“On a date 88 years after its execution, the Wu-Tang Defendants are obligated to transfer the remaining 50% of the copyrights to Shkreli,” Shkreli’s lawyers wrote. “Now, PleasrDAO has alleged that it purchased this same interest from the Wu-Tang defendants.”
Shkreli alleges he's contractually entitled to receive 50 percent of the copyright to the album based on a deal he made with RZA and Cilvaringz in 2015. The former CEO was allegedly supposed to get the other half of the copyright 88 years later. PleasrDAO bought the album in 2021 for $4 million and paid an additional $750,000 for the copyrights and other rights. Now, Shkreli claims both Wu-Tang producers sold “a total of 150%” of the rights to PleasrDAO.
“Mr. Shkreli’s approach throughout has been to distract and delay with actions that the Court has consistently and strenuously rejected," PleasrDAO’s attorney, Steven Cooper, said in a statement. "These Counterclaims will meet the same fate.”
As of this report, RZA has not responded to the lawsuit.