Major Labels Sue Suno for Copyright Infringement over AI Stream-Ripping

The major record labels Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group have intensified their copyright infringement lawsuit against AI music generator Suno, accusing it of illegally using copyrighted recordings to train its AI models through "stream-ripping" from platforms like YouTube. The labels argue that Suno’s actions violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) by circumventing technological protection measures designed to block unauthorized downloads. Suno counters that its use of publicly accessible YouTube content does not violate the DMCA since it does not circumvent access restrictions, and that the labels’ attempt to add piracy claims is a legal "gambit" to avoid the fair use doctrine, which many courts increasingly recognize as applicable to AI training. Suno also points out that the DMCA’s restrictions were established with congressional compromises that do not support the labels’ interpretation and that the proposed amendments to the lawsuit are unlikely to succeed. This legal battle is pivotal as it could set important precedents regarding the use of copyrighted material in AI training and the boundaries of fair use, impacting the future of AI music creation and copyright law enforcement. The case highlights the broader tensions between the music industry’s efforts to protect creative content and the evolving capabilities of generative AI technologies.