Sony and Universal Music Group have filed another lawsuit against AI music generator Suno. According to the complaint shared with The Verge, the labels argue that Suno’s newer v6 model continues to infringe their copyrights because it was trained on user outputs from earlier models — models the labels say were themselves built on unlicensed music taken from YouTube and other sources.
The labels describe this approach as “model laundering,” asserting that training a purportedly new model on the outputs of an infringing one does not resolve the underlying infringement but instead passes along the value of the copyrighted works. Sony and UMG are noted as holdouts that have not entered into a licensing agreement with Suno.
Why it matters
The dispute centers on how AI models are trained and whether reusing outputs from earlier models resolves copyright concerns. The “model laundering” argument raises questions about training practices that could have broader implications for generative AI.
Who should care
AI companies working with copyrighted material, music rights holders, and legal observers tracking generative AI litigation will want to follow this case.