Music AI startups Suno and Udio are fighting back against lawsuits from major record labels. Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Music accuse these companies of misusing copyrighted material to train their AI systems.
The dispute began when Udio’s AI generated a song titled “Holy Grounds” after a request for an Americana track similar to Tift Merritt’s “Traveling Alone.” Merritt criticized the song as a poor imitation and said, “This shows how unoriginal this technology is. It’s stealing.” As an advocate for artist rights, Merritt fears that AI could diminish creativity in music.
Merritt, along with Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj, and Stevie Wonder, signed an open letter warning that AI could hurt the music industry by replacing human creativity. The record labels argue that Suno and Udio’s AI systems replicate elements from songs by artists like Mariah Carey and Bruce Springsteen, thus infringing on copyrights.
Suno and Udio defend their technology, stating that their AI creates new music rather than copying existing works. They have responded to the lawsuits by denying copyright violations and likening the situation to past concerns about new technologies, such as synthesizers and drum machines.
The legal challenges reveal complexities in copyright law. Musicologist Brian McBrearty explains that elements like melody, rhythm, and harmony make it difficult to determine copyright infringement. “Music involves more than just words,” McBrearty said.
The lawsuits also reflect broader debates about AI’s role in creative industries, similar to issues with AI-generated text. Legal experts suggest that the “fair use” doctrine, which allows some use of copyrighted material, might influence the outcome. Suno and Udio argue that their use of existing music to create new songs qualifies as fair use.
Julie Albert, an intellectual property lawyer, points out that proving fair use could be harder for AI music creators compared to text-based AI. She notes that mimicking existing music might be judged differently from synthesizing text.
As these cases unfold, they could set important precedents for AI in creative fields. Both the music and tech industries are closely monitoring the situation. Meanwhile, artists like Merritt continue to advocate for protecting human creativity and ensuring fair compensation.
