June 2025 AI Music Legal Update: Suno & Udio Lawsuits
Gary Whittaker
AI Music on Trial: Where We Stand on the Suno/Udio Lawsuits (June 2025)
By Gary Whittaker – Creator, Strategist, and Founder of JackRighteous.com
If you're using AI music tools like Suno or Udio—whether for creativity, business, or marketing—this is a critical moment. Two major lawsuits are underway that could redefine how AI and music intersect under U.S. copyright law.
This article outlines where things stand now, what creators should be aware of, and how we’re responding at JackRighteous.com.
Legal Overview: Suno and Udio Under Fire
Universal, Sony, and Warner—backed by the RIAA—have sued Suno and Udio in separate federal cases. The allegation: these companies trained their AI models on copyrighted recordings without authorization, leading to outputs that sometimes closely resemble real songs.
The legal question at the heart of the case:
Does training an AI model on copyrighted music without permission constitute infringement, or is it protected as fair use?
Parallel Class Action: A Musician’s Legal Challenge
Independent attorney-musician Miss Krystle has launched her own legal action, arguing these platforms threaten artists' rights and economic futures.
Watch her breakdown: Miss Krystle: I’m Suing Suno & Udio
Fair Use vs. Infringement
Suno and Udio argue their models are transformative—they learn patterns and styles, similar to how a human musician might. They claim they do not store or replay any specific recordings.
Plaintiffs counter that wholesale ingestion of full copyrighted works, especially when outputs resemble those works, exceeds the boundaries of fair use.
Who’s at Risk?
| Use Case | Legal Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Fun | 🚫 Very Low | Lawsuits are aimed at the platforms, not casual users. |
| Social Media Use | ⚠️ Medium | Avoid content that imitates real artists too closely. |
| Monetized Projects | ⚠️–🚨 High | Rights are unclear. Avoid licensing, syncing, or resale. |
| Client Work/Brands | 🚨 High | Commercial use without clear copyright is high risk. |
What to Watch For
Court Rulings (Late 2025–2026)
- On May 1, 2025, Judge Chhabria heard summary judgment arguments in the Suno case. The ruling—expected later this year—could set precedent on whether AI music training falls under fair use.
- A country artist filed a separate class action in June 2025, expanding legal pressure beyond major labels.
Licensing Frameworks
- Negotiations between Suno/Udio and Universal, Sony, and Warner are in progress. Discussions reportedly include:
- Paid licensing
- Artist opt-in/opt-out mechanisms
- Metadata tracking and attribution
- Equity participation
- Suno’s June 2025 update introduced stem uploads—suggesting preparation for content tracking and rights management.
AI Music Regulations (2026+)
- The U.S. Copyright Office’s May 2025 report suggests that training on copyrighted works without permission may not qualify for fair use.
- Federal legislation (H.R. 7913 – Generative AI Copyright Disclosure Act) would require companies to publicly disclose training data 30 days before product release.
- States are also active:
- Tennessee’s ELVIS Act (effective July 2024) prohibits unauthorized AI voice replication.
- Utah’s S.B. 149 mandates content transparency across AI media platforms.
Why It Matters to Creators
A negative court ruling could force Suno/Udio to restructure or shut down unlicensed model training.
Licensing frameworks could open new opportunities for creators—through attribution, revenue sharing, and metadata protection.
Upcoming transparency laws may allow musicians to track how their work is used during AI model training and assert rights if needed.
Our Position at JackRighteous.com
At JackRighteous.com, we use AI music tools—but we do so with purpose and structure. We're not flooding the internet with output for output's sake. We’re building music and story systems that align with our brand, legal reality, and long-term creative vision.
Too many creators release daily AI tracks with no clear authorship, no copyright path, and no brand coherence.
We believe in slowing down—not to discourage experimentation, but to help creators:
- Identify their best AI outputs
- Refine and brand their work
- Document and protect their content
We’ve moved our entire GET JACKED Creator System online to support this smarter path forward:
Start Your AI Music Branding Journey
Join the Conversation
Are you using Suno or Udio for fun, business, or marketing?
Do you believe intent should play a bigger role in these legal debates?
Share your perspective:
Let’s make this conversation about more than headlines—let’s make it about creative direction.
Part of the AI Music Ethics & Strategy Series from JackRighteous.com.
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