Science & Tech · AI · 13 hrs ago
Music experts adapt as AI raises new copyright questions
Music experts are adapting their methods as artificial intelligence changes how music is made and shared.
In June 2024, Sony Music, Universal and Warner sued AI song generators Suno and Udio, alleging they copied protected recordings to train their systems.
Warner reached agreements with both companies, Universal with Udio, while Sony filed new lawsuits covering tens of thousands more recordings.
No US court has yet ruled on whether training AI on copyrighted music without a licence is legal.
Experts compare melodies, chords, rhythm, lyrics and catchy passages, with AI tools helping their work but people making the final assessment.
A song's style alone is not enough: experts look for substantial shared musical features that are distinctive to a particular work.
AI-generated songs can combine familiar elements without copying an identifiable passage, making it harder to judge whether a specific work was taken.
Musicologists are adapting forensic methods as artificial intelligence creates new questions about music copyright.
Sony Music, Universal and Warner sued song-generation platforms Suno and Udio in June 2024, alleging they copied recordings to train their algorithms.
The companies have reached different settlements, while Sony has filed new lawsuits over tens of thousands more recordings.
No US court has yet ruled on whether AI may be trained on copyrighted music without a licence.
Experts still compare melody, chords, rhythm, lyrics and other musical features, with human judgment remaining central.
- Who
- Sony Music, Universal and Warner sued AI music platforms Suno and Udio.
- What
- The labels alleged the platforms copied their recordings to train song-generation algorithms.
- When
- The lawsuits were filed in June 2024.
- Where
- The lawsuits are in the United States.
- Why
- The labels allege their recordings were copied without permission to train the platforms’ algorithms.
Music companies
AI music platforms
Training data
Music companies
The labels sued over alleged copying of copyrighted recordings to train algorithms.
AI music platforms
The technology companies rely on the fair-use argument.
Licensing
Music companies
Joe Bennett says major record labels are seeking to license their catalogues as a new source of income.
AI music platforms
The platforms generate songs from text prompts; the article does not state their position on licensing.
One of the first music plagiarism lawsuits in history was decided in London in favour of the publisher of an opera by Daniel Auber.
Sony Music, Universal and Warner sued Suno and Udio, alleging they copied recordings to train their algorithms.
Joe Bennett testified in a trial against Kanye West involving a dispute over a sample.
- First cited lawsuit
- London, 1835
- Plaintiffs
- Sony Music, Universal and Warner
- Defendants
- Suno and Udio
- Lawsuit date
- June 2024
- Settlements
- Warner settled with both platforms; Universal settled with Udio
- Court ruling
- No US court has yet ruled on the legality of training AI on copyrighted music without a licence
What people are saying
AI programs help speed up technical work, such as isolating instruments from a mix
However powerful these tools may be, the final word always belongs to a person, someone with a good ear and a broad knowledge of the repertoire
For a similarity to become improper appropriation, there has to be a substantial amount of distinctive musical elements shared