UMG Recordings, Inc. v. Suno, Inc.

In UMG Recordings, Inc. et al. v. Suno, Inc. (Case No. 1:24-cv-11611, S.D.N.Y., filed 24 June 2024), Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group accuse Suno, Inc. of willful copyright infringement for using their protected sound recordings to train its AI music generation model without authorization.

Suno’s platform enables users to generate “radio-quality” songs that imitate the sound and style of human-made recordings. The plaintiffs allege that Suno’s AI model was trained on extensive catalogues of copyrighted material, allowing it to produce digital tracks that directly compete with genuine recordings. By mid-2024, Suno reportedly had over 10 million users, with many publishing AI-generated songs on commercial streaming services, thereby diverting plays and royalties from original artists.

The complaint asserts two main causes of action: Direct Copyright Infringement of Post-1972 Recordings; and Direct Copyright Infringement of Pre-1972 Recordings. The Plaintiffs seek injunctive relief. statutory damages up to $150,000 per infringed work, or actual damages and profits under 17 U.S.C. §504, plus attorneys’ fees and interest under §505. Plaintiffs argue Suno’s conduct risks “overrunning the market” for human-created music.

This summary is provided for educational and research purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Allegations described are those made in the filings. Please consult the underlying source documents.