A German court ruled today that AI music startup Suno violated copyright by using songs without authorization, ordering the company to disclose revenue generated from the infringement in a decision that adds to mounting legal pressure on artificial intelligence firms over copyrighted content.
The Munich Regional Court said Suno had no right to process songs by artists represented by Germany’s music rights organization Gema. The court also ruled that Suno must pay damages, although the amount has yet to be determined.
The ruling can be appealed. “This is a verdict of global significance,” Gema Chief Executive Tobias Holzmueller said.
Suno said it disagreed with the decision and would evaluate all available options, including an appeal.
The lawsuit centered on Suno’s use of freely available music on Alphabet’s YouTube, including songs by artists such as German band Alphaville, known for the 1980s hits “Forever Young” and “Big in Japan.”
The case is part of a broader wave of lawsuits brought by artists, music publishers and collecting societies against AI companies over the use of copyrighted works to train or generate content.
Germany’s culture minister, Wolfram Weimer, called the ruling an important signal for protecting creators’ rights in the digital music industry.
“We need a regulatory framework that strengthens innovation and creativity,” he said in a statement.
Massachusetts-based Suno, which was valued at $5.4 billion in a June funding round, allows users to generate songs using text prompts.
AI music companies, including Suno and rival Udio, face multiple lawsuits alleging they used copyrighted music without compensating composers. More than 1,800 artists are supporting class-action lawsuits against the two companies.
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Faustine Ngila is the AI Editor at Impact Newswire, based in Nairobi, Kenya. He is an award-winning journalist specializing in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and emerging technologies.
He previously worked as a global technology reporter at Quartz in New York and Digital Frontier in London, where he covered innovation, startups, and the global digital economy.
With years of experience reporting on cutting-edge technologies, Faustine focuses on AI developments, industry trends, and the impact of technology on society.
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