As the battle over artificial intelligence‘s role in music creation intensifies, major record labels Sony, Universal Music Group, and Warner have launched a coordinated legal assault against AI company Udio, accusing the tech firm of engaging in systematic copyright infringement through unauthorized “stream-ripping” of protected recordings.
Filed in federal courts across New York and Massachusetts, the lawsuits allege Udio circumvented anti-piracy measures on platforms like YouTube to illegally acquire copyrighted sound recordings for AI model training. The labels contend this practice constitutes music piracy under current law and demand significant damages, injunctive relief, and deletion of all unlawfully obtained copies.
Independent artists have joined the legal fray, claiming Udio’s actions caused substantial market harm by flooding distribution channels with AI-generated substitute tracks that diminish licensing opportunities and revenue streams.
These artists emphasize the economic challenges they face in protecting their creative works against well-funded AI companies.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), representing the major labels, has positioned these lawsuits as an essential stand for responsible AI development that respects creator rights.
“The preservation of traditional licensing models is fundamental as we navigate the intersection of technology and creative expression,” said a representative from the industry coalition on March 15.
Udio has responded with motions to dismiss, arguing that downloading content from public platforms does not constitute copyright violation under current U.S. law.
Their defense heavily relies on fair use doctrine and cites recent precedents including the Anthropic case, which addressed similar questions about training data acquisition for AI systems.
The legal battle has escalated as plaintiffs added claims that Udio illegally scraped lyrics and recordings from databases including Genius and Musixmatch without proper licensing agreements.
Several indie artists in Illinois, including Attack the Sound and the Burjek brothers, have filed separate lawsuits of approximately 100 pages each detailing similar allegations against both Udio and competitor Suno.
Artists are increasingly concerned about protecting sync deals, which represent a highly profitable revenue stream when music is licensed for use in films, commercials, and video games.
These accusations broaden the scope of alleged violations and potentially increase Udio’s liability if courts rule against the company.
Industry observers note this case could establish significant precedent for how copyright law applies to AI training methodologies in the rapidly evolving music technology landscape.
Organizations including the American Federation of Musicians have voiced strong support for the lawsuits, emphasizing the importance of protecting artists’ creative works from unauthorized exploitation.
The lawsuit highlights the crucial role of performance rights organizations in ensuring that songwriters and composers receive appropriate compensation when their works are publicly performed, whether through traditional channels or AI-derived applications.
