World's biggest music labels file AI copyright lawsuit

4 hours ago

By Natalie Sherman, BBC News

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The The world's largest record label group is suing two artificial intelligence (AI) startups for alleged copyright infringement in a potentially landmark case.

Companies including Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Records say Suno and Udio committed copyright infringement on an "almost unimaginable scale."

They claim the couple's software steals music to "spit out" similar work and are seeking compensation of $150,000 (£118,200) per work.

Suno did not respond to a request for comment. Udio said in a blog post Tuesday that it was "not at all interested in reproducing content."

The lawsuits, announced Monday by the Recording Industry Association of America, are part of a wave of lawsuits filed by authors, news organizations and other groups challenging the right of AI companies to use their work.

< p class="sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe">Suno, which is based in Massachusetts, launched its first product last year and claims that more than 10 million people have used its tool to make music.

The company, which has a partnership with Microsoft, charges a monthly fee for its service and recently announced that it had raised $125 million from investors .

< p class="sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe">New York-based Udio, known as Uncharted Labs, is backed by high-profile venture capitalists such as Andreessen Horowitz .

He made his app public in April, achieving near-instant fame for being the tool used to create "BBL Drizzy" - a parody track related to the feud between artists Kendrick Lamar and Drake.

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In the past, AI companies have argued that their use of the material is legitimate under the fair use doctrine, which...