In a dramatic escalation, major record labels, including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Records, have filed Copyright Infringement lawsuits against AI music companies Suno and Udio. These federal lawsuits, filed in Boston and New York, accuse the AI firms of extensive unauthorised use of copyrighted sound recordings to train their models.

‘This is a straightforward case of copyright infringement involving unlicensed copying of sound recordings on a massive scale,’ said RIAA chief legal officer Ken Doroshow. ‘Suno and Udio are attempting to hide the full scope of their infringement rather than putting their services on a sound and lawful footing.’

The plaintiffs claim Suno and Udio used copyrighted works from various artists without proper licenses or consent, seeking damages of up to $150,000 per infringed work, plus legal fees.

The record labels argue that Suno’s ability to produce convincing imitations of a wide range of human musical expression is directly tied to their unauthorized use of copyrighted recordings. Suno and Udio, however, maintain that their training data is ‘confidential business information.’

This legal action mirrors last year’s lawsuit where UMG and others sued Anthropic for distributing copyrighted lyrics through their AI chatbot, Claude 2. The rise of AI-generated music, capable of mimicking popular artists, has stirred concern within the music industry. Artists and labels fear their creative work is being exploited without compensation and that AI ‘deepfakes’ could undermine their control over their musical identities.

As AI technology evolves, the debate over copyright, compensation, and ethical use of creative works in AI training data will likely intensify. The clash between the music industry and AI companies like Suno and Udio exemplifies the complex challenges as AI integrates further into the creative landscape.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and creative industries, safeguarding your intellectual property has never been more critical. The recent lawsuits against AI music companies Suno and Udio underscore the importance of robust legal protection. At Vakilsearch, we specialise in comprehensive intellectual property services, from copyright registration to legal representation in infringement cases. Protect your creative works and ensure fair compensation for your innovations. Contact Vakilsearch today to fortify your rights in the digital age.

The year-long Trademark Dispute between Dabur India and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee concluded on  18 June 2024, with Rathee agreeing to blur the packaging of Dabur’s Real fruit juice in his videos. The dispute originated from a video comparing the health impacts of packaged fruit juices and fresh fruit juices, prominently featuring the Real fruit juice logo and trademark.

Justice Krishna Rao, presiding over the single-judge bench, closed the case after both parties agreed to Rathee’s proposal. Rathee will blur or use generic fruit juice packaging in his videos, maintaining his right to freedom of speech and fair comment.

Dabur accepted Rathee’s modifications, which included removing any references to the ‘REAL’ trademarks, copyrights, labels, packaging, and advertisements. Consequently, Dabur raised no objections to the video’s continued circulation on social media.

The conflict began when Dabur objected to Rathee’s use of their ‘REAL’ trademarks in a YouTube video. In March 2023, Justice Ravi Krishan Kapur ordered YouTube and other social media platforms to block or take down the contentious video.

 As Dabur India and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee settle their year-long legal battle over trademark use, it highlights the importance of proactive trademark protection. At Vakilsearch, we specialise in safeguarding your intellectual property rights through meticulous trademark registration and dispute resolution services. Whether you’re facing a dispute or need to protect your brand, our dedicated team ensures comprehensive legal support tailored to your specific needs. Protect your brand integrity. Contact Vakilsearch today.