AI Music Startups Defend Copyright Infringement, Arguing Fair Use in Landmark Lawsuits

The AI music startups Suno and Udio are pushing back against copyright infringement lawsuits filed by major record labels, arguing that training their AI models on copyrighted material falls under fair use and that the lawsuits aim to stifle competition in the music industry.

The RIAA’s accusations: The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), representing major record labels, filed lawsuits against Suno and Udio in June, alleging massive copyright infringement:

• The RIAA claims that some tracks generated by Suno and Udio contain vocals sounding identical to famous artists like Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, and ABBA.
• The lawsuits seek damages of up to $150,000 for every infringed work.

Suno and Udio’s defense: In their legal filings, Suno and Udio argue that training AI models on copyrighted material is protected under fair use doctrine and that the lawsuits aim to hinder competition:

• Udio states that using existing recordings to identify patterns and enable users to create new works is a “quintessential ‘fair use’ under copyright law.”
• Suno likens its model training to a kid learning to write new songs by listening to music, emphasizing that learning is not infringing.
• Both companies admit to training their models on online music, noting that other AI providers like OpenAI, Google, and Apple also source training data from the internet.

The RIAA’s response: The RIAA maintains that Suno and Udio failed to obtain appropriate consent to use copyrighted works, unlike competing services like YouTube:

• The RIAA argues that there’s nothing fair about stealing an artist’s work, extracting its value, and repackaging it to compete with the originals.
• They suggest that Suno and Udio’s vision of the future of music is one where artists can no longer earn a living, and fans will no longer enjoy music by their favorite artists.

Broader implications: The outcome of these lawsuits could set a significant precedent for the use of copyrighted material in training AI models and the future of AI-generated music:

• If Suno and Udio’s fair use argument prevails, it could open the door for more AI music startups to train their models on copyrighted works without obtaining licenses.
• However, if the RIAA wins, it could establish a legal framework requiring AI companies to obtain consent and pay royalties for using copyrighted material in model training, potentially slowing down the development of AI music tools.
• The case highlights the ongoing tension between traditional copyright laws and the rapidly evolving AI industry, as well as the need for clearer regulations on the use of copyrighted material in AI training.