0
0
Major Record Labels Sue AI Music Startups for Copyright Infringement
Several major record labels, including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Records, are taking legal action against AI music startups Udio and Suno for alleged copyright infringement. The lawsuits, filed by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), claim that the startups have been using copyrighted sound recordings from various artists to train their AI models on a massive scale.
The RIAA argues that the music generated by these AI models could flood the market with machine-generated content, devaluing and overshadowing the original recordings. Ken Doroshow, RIAA’s chief legal officer, stated, “These are straightforward cases of copyright infringement involving unlicensed copying of sound recordings on a massive scale.”
Udio and Suno’s AI Music Generation
Both Udio and Suno offer platforms that allow users to create music from text prompts. Udio, for example, was behind the creation of the viral “BBL Drizzy” diss track. The lawsuits emphasize that these AI companies must not advance their goal of becoming the dominant AI music generation service by infringing on copyright laws.
In a recent funding round, Suno raised $125 million, with investments from Lightspeed Ventures and Founder Collective. The startup also has a partnership with Microsoft, offering its services through Microsoft Copilot. However, neither the RIAA, Udio, nor Suno have responded to requests for comment regarding the legal actions.
The RIAA is seeking damages of up to $150,000 per infringed work. These lawsuits highlight the ongoing challenges and legal complexities surrounding the intersection of AI technology and intellectual property rights in the music industry.
Image/Photo credit: source url
