UMG Recordings, Inc. v. Uncharted Labs, Inc.

On 24 June 2024, Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group jointly sued Uncharted Labs, the developer of Udio, alleging widespread copyright infringement.

The plaintiffs asserted that Udio copied and ingested decades of copyrighted sound recordings, including both post-1972 and pre-1972 recordings, without authorisation to train its generative AI model, which produces digital tracks mimicking real human performances. They argued that Udio’s mass copying and commercial distribution of AI-generated music violated 17 U.S.C. § 106, causing direct competition with authentic works.

The complaint sought injunctive relief, statutory damages of up to $150,000 per infringed work, or, alternatively, actual damages and profits under §504(b), as well as attorneys’ fees and interest under §505.

On 29 October 2025, UMG announced that the case had been settled through a strategic partnership and licensing agreement with Udio. The settlement included a compensatory payment and new recording and publishing licences, paving the way for a licensed AI music platform to launch in 2026. The new service will use authorised, licensed training data to generate and share music in a controlled, rights-compliant ecosystem (https://www.universalmusic.com/universal-music-group-and-udio-announce-udios-first-strategic-agreements-for-new-licensed-ai-music-creation-platform/).

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.