Suno claims record labels' lawsuits aim to stifle AI music competition

Music startup Suno accuses record labels of using copyright lawsuits to suppress competition from AI-generated music.

Suno, a music software startup, has hit back at the world's largest record labels, accusing them of using copyright lawsuits to protect their market dominance from AI-generated music. The company argues that its practice of training AI models on publicly available data, which may include copyrighted material, is no different from how humans learn and create.

The major record labels, Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Music, have sued Suno for allegedly exploiting copyrighted sounds and songs without permission to train its AI models. However, Suno CEO Mikey Shulman argues that learning from existing works is not the same as infringing on copyright, comparing it to a kid writing their own rock songs after listening to the genre.   

This legal battle echoes similar lawsuits filed by media companies against Microsoft and OpenAI, highlighting the ongoing tension between content creators and AI companies. While some companies, like Time, Vox Media, and News Corp., have reached agreements with OpenAI, others are still grappling with how to coexist and protect their businesses.  

The recording industry, having faced disruption before with the rise of Napster and digital file formats, seems to be approaching this new challenge with a mix of caution and collaboration. Shulman claims Suno was already in talks with major labels to find mutually beneficial solutions before the lawsuits were filed.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) responded to Suno's claims, emphasizing that the startup has admitted to unlicensed copying and that the lawsuit is necessary to protect artists' rights.   

This legal battle will likely shape the future of AI-generated music and its relationship with the traditional music industry. As both sides continue to navigate this evolving landscape, the outcome of this case could have significant implications for the future of music creation and copyright law.