Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) sues over AI use

Universal, Sony and Warner Music vs. Udio and Suno

As already reported here several times, the use of protected works for AI is restricted by the current legal situation. This also applies if AI only wants to use such works, i.e. intellectual property, for "training purposes", i.e. to improve the existing algorithms. The owner or the authorized licensee decides who may or can use the protected goods and in what form.

In this respect, the decision of the German collecting society VG Wort, for example, to include corresponding licenses in the exploitation agreement seems logical and points the way forward.

Now the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has filed a lawsuit against the AI start-ups Suno and Udio on behalf of Sony, Warner Music and Universal. The tools generated complete songs for users - with instruments, lyrics and vocals - which are offered in different versions according to musical genre and with good results.

The RIAA accuses the companies of having used "masses of protected recordings" for their business model and thus even creating works that are potentially in competition with the works of the rights holders. .

The opposing side, on the other hand, invokes the so-called "fair use" principle that exists in the USA. This allows the use of protected material if, for example, it is used for public education, satire or news.

One reason why this approach is not uncontroversial is that the fair use principle relates to human creativity.

It remains exciting to see how this topic will develop. The music industry is not fundamentally opposed to the use of AI, but licenses must be concluded that preserve the control of rights holders and artists. In an open letter, 200 artists also expressed their criticism of the use of AI in their works.

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