Sony Music v. Suno. AI training copyright infringement (D. Mass.)

Latest development

Suno has admitted in a court filing that it took its training audio from YouTube. In a September 1, 2026 answer to the labels' amended complaint, Suno states that 'audio data was obtained from YouTube for use as training data using YT-DLP,' while arguing the labels lack standing to bring a DMCA anti-circumvention claim, that any copying is fair use, and that the labels' claims are barred by copyright misuse because they 'extend an unlawful monopoly' over music. The answer follows two August 18 orders from Judge Saylor: he granted UMG and Sony leave to add a Section 1201 'stream ripping' claim (the amended complaint was filed August 25, seeking up to $2,500 per act of circumvention on top of $150,000 per work), but denied their bid to add 61,026 recordings to the 560 in suit, writing that doing so would have 'obvious consequences of complexity and delay' and that Suno 'is entitled to a timely resolution' of the fair use question; the labels may assert the extra works in a separate suit. Fact discovery still closes September 30, 2026, with dispositive motions due April 9, 2027. Separately, on July 31, 2026 the Munich Regional Court ruled for GEMA against Suno in the first European decision on a generative AI music tool, finding both training and outputs infringed; that judgment is under appeal.

Tracker entry updated 2026-09-14 · next known date: 2026-09-30