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Judge Says Shkreli Can Be Sued Over Copied Wu‑Tang ‘Shaolin’ Album

By stressing the album’s secrecy, the court let trade‑secret claims move forward.

Overview

  • U.S. District Judge Pamela K. Chen allowed PleasrDAO to pursue trade‑secret misappropriation and property‑recovery claims tied to Wu‑Tang Clan’s one‑of‑a‑kind album.
  • The ruling says Martin Shkreli unlawfully retained and distributed copies, enabling PleasrDAO to seek damages, disgorged profits, and the return of any files he still holds.
  • The court dismissed other counts, including forfeiture, interference, and unjust enrichment, on legal and copyright‑preemption grounds.
  • PleaesrDAO alleges Shkreli kept digital files after forfeiting the album, streamed tracks online, and posted messages suggesting he could upload the mp3s.
  • The decision notes that applying trade‑secret law to a unique cultural artifact is uncharted territory as the case heads into discovery and potential remedies.