AI Music Showdown: Major Labels vs. AI Start-ups in Copyright Battle

TL;DR:

• Major music labels sue AI start-ups Suno and Udio for copyright infringement
• AI models generate songs based on user prompts, allegedly trained on copyrighted music
• Lawsuits seek injunctions and damages, with potential nine-figure consequences

The Rise of AI Music Creation: Suno and Udio

Artificial intelligence (AI) has made its way into the music industry, and two of the biggest names in AI music creation are Suno and Udio. These models allow users to generate songs based on text prompts, such as “a jazz song about New York.” Both platforms can create music in various genres, using either user-provided lyrics or AI-generated ones.

Suno, launched in December 2023 with a Microsoft partnership, recently secured $125 million in funding. Udio, released on April 10, boasts investors like will.i.am, Common, and Tay Keith. The viral hit “BBL Drizzy” was created using Udio’s technology during Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s feud.

The Copyright Infringement Claims

Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group have joined forces to sue Suno and Udio for copyright infringement. The labels allege that the AI models were trained on their music libraries without permission. Lawyers argue that this process involved copying decades of popular recordings to generate outputs imitating genuine human creations.

Both start-ups have claimed “fair use” of copyrighted music, a doctrine allowing copyrighted material to be used without permission for academic, journalistic, or parody purposes. However, the labels argue that AI-generated music does not fall under this category, as it is not an expression of human creativity.

Suno and Udio’s Response

Suno CEO Mikey Shulman stated that their technology generates completely new outputs and does not copy pre-existing content. However, he did not deny that the AI model was trained on the labels’ music. Udio has yet to respond to the lawsuits.

The Lawsuits’ Demands

The lawsuits make three specific requests:

1. Admission from Suno and Udio that their AI models were trained on the labels’ music libraries
2. Injunctions to stop the alleged training
3. Damages of up to $150,000 per song, potentially resulting in nine-figure consequences

The Impact on AI and the Music Industry

These lawsuits mark the most significant action taken against AI-generated music to date. The joint effort from all three major labels highlights the seriousness of the issue. The outcome could have major implications for AI and the music business, as concerns about AI-generated music have been growing within the industry.

Comment and Share

What are your thoughts on AI-generated music and the ongoing copyright battle? Do you believe AI can coexist with human creativity in the music industry? Share your opinions below and don’t forget to subscribe for updates on AI and AGI developments.

You may also like:

• NYT vs OpenAI copyright lawsuit is like Hollywood’s early fight against VCRs
• YouTube’s New AI Disclosure Policy: A Step Towards Transparency in Asia’s AGI Landscape
• Adobe’s GenAI is Revolutionising Music Creation
• To learn more about AI and copyright, tap here.