Martin Shkreli, the controversial figure known as “pharma bro,” has filed a lawsuit against RZA, co-founder of the Wu-Tang Clan, alleging a violation of copyright related to the sole copy of the group’s album, “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin.” The lawsuit, filed this week, centers around Shkreli’s claim that RZA engaged in a “duplicate sale” of copyright interests he believes he still owns, despite a forfeiture order stemming from Shkreli’s previous criminal conviction.

Shkreli initially purchased the single copy of the Wu-Tang Clan album in 2015 for $4 million. The album was intended to be a unique artistic endeavor, with only one copy ever intended to be produced. However, Shkreli’s ownership of the album and its copyright was complicated by subsequent legal proceedings. He was later convicted of securities fraud and, as part of his sentence, the album was forfeited to the U.S. government.

The lawsuit claims that RZA improperly transferred or sold certain copyright interests related to the album, despite the forfeiture order. Shkreli’s legal team argues that the forfeiture only applied to the physical album itself, not the underlying copyright. Details of the alleged “duplicate sale” are not fully specified in the initial reports, but the lawsuit seeks to clarify and protect Shkreli’s asserted rights to the album's copyright.

The case highlights the complex legal landscape surrounding unique artworks and intellectual property rights, especially when entangled with criminal proceedings. The U.S. government ultimately sold the album at auction in 2020 for $4 million to PleasrDAO, a decentralized autonomous organization. The current lawsuit suggests that Shkreli’s pursuit of his claimed copyright interests related to the album continues, even after its sale and subsequent ownership transfer.

The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the ownership and control of unique artistic creations and the interpretation of forfeiture orders in cases involving intellectual property. Further details are expected to emerge as the legal proceedings unfold.