Record Labels Sue AI Music Companies for Copyright Infringement
By Movieguide® Contributor
Several big-name record labels are suing generative AI music-making companies Udio and Suno.
Per The Verge, “A group of record labels including the big three — Universal Music Group (UMG), Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Records — are suing two of the top names in generative AI music making, alleging the companies violated their copyright ‘en masse.'”
The lawsuits are separate with Suno being sued in Boston and Udio being sued in New York.
According to both lawsuits, the record labels have accused the two companies of using artists’ work without their consent.
RIAA chief legal officer, Ken Doroshow, said in a statement, “These are straightforward cases of copyright infringement involving unlicensed copying of sound recordings on a massive scale. Suno and Udio are attempting to hide the full scope of their infringement rather than putting their services on a sound and lawful footing.”
Sunos is fighting the case. CEO Mikey Shulman claims the company is designed to “generate completely new outputs, not to memorize and regurgitate pre-existing content.”
“We would have been happy to explain this to the corporate record labels that filed this lawsuit (and in fact, we tried to do so), but instead of entertaining a good faith discussion, they’ve reverted to their old lawyer-led playbook,” a statement from Sunos reads. “Suno is built for new music, new uses, and new musicians. We prize originality.”
The songs for which the companies are being sued include “one song generated by Suno titled ‘Deep down in Louisiana close to New Orle’ [sic] [that] replicates the lyrics and style of ‘Johnny B. Goode’ by Chuck Berry. Another song called ‘Prancing Queen’ generated using the prompt ’70s pop’ contains lyrics to ‘Dancing Queen’ by ABBA — and sounds remarkably like the band.”
Movieguide® previously reported on AI in the music industry:
A new agreement has been formed between SAG-AFTRA and major recording studios concerning the use of AI in the music industry.
“This agreement ensures that our members are protected,” said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA national executive director and chief negotiator. “SAG-AFTRA stands firm in the belief that while technology can enhance the creative process, the essence of music must always be rooted in genuine human expression and experience.”
“We look forward to working alongside our industry partners to foster an environment where innovation serves to elevate, not diminish, the unique value of each artist’s contribution to our rich cultural tapestry,” he added.
The deal stipulates that the terms “artist,” “singer” and “royalty artist” can only refer to real human beings. Furthermore, it outlines requirements for clear consent and minimum compensation, among other guidelines for digitally replicating a musician’s voice.
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