Boston, MA – A group of major record labels, including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Records, have filed lawsuits against two leading generative AI music companies, Suno and Udio, alleging widespread copyright infringement.
Suno and Udio use text prompts to create original songs, with Suno even partnering with Microsoft Copilot. One of Udio’s creations, “BBL Drizzy,” gained viral popularity. The lawsuits were filed in Boston federal court for Suno and in New York for Udio, accusing them of using artists’ work without permission.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and a group of labels are behind the legal action, seeking damages of up to $150,000 per work. RIAA’s chief legal officer, Ken Doroshow, emphasized the scale of infringement, accusing the companies of attempting to avoid responsibility for their actions.
The music industry has been at odds with technology companies over AI tools, with previous lawsuits against companies like Anthropic for copyright violations. The battle intensifies as AI systems can replicate artists’ sounds convincingly, raising concerns about musicians’ control over their digital likeness.
Platforms like TikTok and YouTube have also faced challenges with AI-generated music, leading to temporary removals and new content-removal systems. The legal battles highlight the ongoing struggle between traditional media and AI technology.
Executives and investors at Suno acknowledged the risk of lawsuits, underscoring the complicated relationship between innovation and copyright laws. OpenAI is also facing legal challenges for its use of training data, as authors and publishers claim their work was included without permission.
While AI-generated music may not replace human creativity entirely, the concern remains that it could devalue artists’ work. Industry advocates have demanded more significant measures to protect artists’ rights in the face of advancing technology and evolving copyright laws.