Over 10 million individuals have utilized AI platform to create music.
The largest record labels in the world are taking legal action against two artificial intelligence (AI) start-ups for alleged copyright infringement in a potentially groundbreaking case.
Major companies like Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and Warner Records have accused Suno and Udio of engaging in copyright violation on an unprecedented scale.
They allege that the software developed by these companies unlawfully appropriates music to produce similar content and are seeking compensation of $150,000 (£118,200) per work.
Suno and Udio have not yet provided a response to the allegations. These lawsuits, which were announced by the Recording Industry Association of America on Monday, are part of a series of legal actions being taken by authors, news organizations, and other entities to challenge the rights of AI companies to utilize their creations.
Suno, headquartered in Massachusetts, introduced its initial product last year and claims that over 10 million individuals have utilized its platform to create music.
The company, in partnership with Microsoft, charges a monthly subscription fee for its services and recently disclosed that it secured $125 million from investors.
Udio, based in New York and also known as Uncharted Labs, has received backing from prominent venture capital firms like Andreessen Horowitz.
The company launched its application to the public in April and quickly gained attention for being the platform used to produce "BBL Drizzy," a parody track related to the dispute between musicians Kendrick Lamar and Drake.
While AI companies have previously argued that their use of copyrighted material falls under the fair use doctrine, which permits the use of copyrighted works without a license under specific circumstances like satire and news reporting, the record labels claim in their complaints that these AI firms are profiting from copying songs without any transformative purpose.
