Music generation startup Suno defends its use of copyrighted music for AI training under the fair-use doctrine amid a lawsuit filed by the Recording Industry Association of America （RIAA）.
Points
- Suno faces an RIAA lawsuit for using copyrighted music to train its AI models.
- The company argues that training AI on open internet data, including copyrighted material, is legal under the fair-use doctrine.
- The RIAA accuses Suno of industrial-scale infringement, harming artists’ ability to earn a living.
- Suno’s co-founder likens AI model training to a musician creating new music after listening to a genre.
Music generation startup Suno is currently embroiled in a legal battle with the Recording Industry Association of America （RIAA） over its use of copyrighted music to train its artificial intelligence models. The RIAA filed the lawsuit on June 24, alleging that Suno and another startup, Udio, used copyrighted music without permission for their AI training processes.
In response, Suno has defended its practices, arguing that training AI models on open internet data, including copyrighted material, is akin to a musician writing new rock songs after listening to the genre. Suno’s co-founder and CEO, Mikey Shulman, elaborated on this stance in a blog post published the same day as the legal filing. He asserted that the use of copyrighted recordings for AI training falls under the fair-use doctrine, a legal principle that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission under certain conditions.
The RIAA, however, refutes Suno’s claims, accusing the company of industrial-scale infringement that harms artists’ ability to earn a living. The association’s argument is that Suno’s large-scale use of copyrighted material without obtaining permission constitutes theft rather than fair use.
The lawsuit from the RIAA claims that tens of millions of recordings, presumably including those owned by the plaintiffs, were used to train Suno’s AI models. The filing states, “It is no secret that the tens of millions of recordings that Suno’s model was trained on presumably included recordings whose rights are owned by the plaintiffs in this case.”
The case has drawn significant attention to the legal and ethical implications of using copyrighted material for AI training. As AI technology continues to advance, the boundaries of fair use and copyright law are being tested, raising important questions about the rights of content creators and the responsibilities of AI developers.
解説
- The lawsuit against Suno highlights the complex legal and ethical issues surrounding the use of copyrighted material for training AI models.
- Suno’s defense under the fair-use doctrine emphasizes the need to balance innovation in AI development with the rights of content creators.
- The RIAA’s accusations of industrial-scale infringement reflect broader concerns about the impact of AI on the music industry and artists’ livelihoods.
- Understanding the principles of fair use and copyright law is crucial for AI developers to navigate the legal landscape and avoid potential infringement issues.
- The outcome of this lawsuit could set a precedent for future cases involving AI training and the use of copyrighted material, influencing the development and regulation of AI technologies.