The AI startup is being sued by some of the world’s largest record labels, including Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Records, for alleged copyright infringement.
In what could be a landmark case that sets a precedent for future AI copyright litigation, two AI startups with music-generating technology, Suno and Udio, are being sued in the US for £118,200 in damages for each “stolen” work.
The lawsuits allege that the startups are plagiarizing existing music and producing works that are so similar that they infringe copyright. Essentially, the plaintiffs claim that the AI-generated music is too close to the original material.
AI companies have long argued that their use of copyrighted works without a license is protected by the fair use doctrine, and many argue that the AI is simply using copyrighted material to learn, but record labels are not convinced.
Rather, the lawsuit alleges that the two AI startups essentially copied the songs with few alterations.
The plaintiffs argue that the AI companies have no reason to incorporate copyrighted material other than to distribute competing music.
The lawsuit says AI startups must play by the same rules as humans, and accuses the companies of “en masse stealing” copyrighted recordings.
Some of the complaints even went so far as to say that the system threatens “the entire music ecosystem” and “threatens to rob true human artistry of what copyright protection is all about.”
Recommended reading
Artists appear to have similar concerns, and the lawsuit follows a letter signed by 200 artists calling for an end to the use of AI in the music industry over similar concerns.
Massachusetts-based Suno and New York-based Udio have already garnered large followings and backers, while Sumo has partnered with Microsoft and already has 10 million users of its app.
Udio gained huge popularity after being used to produce the song “BBL Drizzy,” which satirizes the feud between rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake.
