Record Labels Take Legal Action Against AI Music Generators for Extensive Music Infringement

Major music labels are confronting AI startups they believe have unlawfully trained their systems on copyrighted music. Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music Group have filed lawsuits against music generators Suno and Udio, accusing them of infringing on copyrighted works on a “massive scale.” The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has initiated these legal actions to clarify that AI technology is not exempt from copyright law and must adhere to industry rules.

The lawsuits, filed in U.S. federal court, claim that Suno and Udio scraped copyrighted tracks from the internet. The music labels seek injunctions against future infringements and damages of up to $150,000 per affected work, which could amount to significant financial consequences if the court rules against them. These actions aim to establish a framework where licensed training is the only acceptable practice for AI in the music industry, while discouraging companies from using copyrighted material without permission.

Udio and Suno, both startups that generate music from text prompts, have come under scrutiny for their software's outputs. Udio is run by Uncharted Labs and collaborates with Microsoft on its CoPilot music generation tool. The RIAA asserts that songs produced by these AI services closely resemble existing works, suggesting they were trained on copyrighted material without consent. The companies have reportedly defended themselves by citing their training processes as “confidential business information” and claiming adherence to industry standards.

The lawsuits highlight specific instances where the AI-generated music is alarmingly similar to well-known tracks. For example, claims have been made regarding songs that sound remarkably like The Temptations' “My Girl,” Green Day's “American Idiot,” and Mariah Carey's “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Additionally, the AI tools have allegedly produced vocals indistinguishable from those of legendary artists such as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, and ABBA.

Wired reports a notable example where an AI tool generated a track closely resembling Chuck Berry's classic “Johnny B. Goode” using a prompt that included elements of 1950s rock and roll. The suit claims the AI tool recreated the chorus with striking similarity.

Importantly, the RIAA does not oppose AI training on copyrighted works outright; rather, it insists that such practices must involve proper licensing and consent to protect the interests of copyright owners. The recording industry is also pursuing its own AI agreements that license music fairly. For instance, Universal partnered with SoundLabs to create vocal models while allowing artists to retain control over their output. Additionally, Universal has established a licensing deal with YouTube for AI-generated content.

The filing against Suno emphasizes the potential for a sustainable partnership between AI and human creators, achievable through a free-market licensing system that respects copyright ownership. Suno co-founder Mikey Shulman has maintained that the company's practices are both “legal” and consistent with industry standards, expressing a willingness to adapt should the legal landscape change.

As the AI industry evolves, it faces a critical moment in determining how it navigates copyright laws while fostering innovation in music creation.