DRULES AI
The suit, Sony's second against Udio, comes after a judge previously blocked the label from adding the expansive list to an earlier 2024 case filed alongside Universal and Warner. Sony gained access to Udio's training data through discovery and deployed audio fingerprinting to identify the infringed works, which represent only a fraction of the total alleged violations.
🔍 Anatomy of the Claims
The 1,102-page exhibit lists hits spanning decades and genres. Beyoncé, Harry Styles, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Britney Spears, Stevie Wonder and Foreigner tracks are all named. Sony claims Udio's model directly copied these recordings to enable users to generate near-identical outputs, violating copyright on both composition and sound recording elements.
Sony is demanding up to $150,000 in statutory damages per work, plus actual damages, attorneys' fees and a permanent injunction that could shut down Udio's core features. The complaint emphasizes that the 30,000 songs are merely illustrative.
⚔️ Label Strategies Diverge
Universal Music Group and Warner Records settled their parallel suits against Udio and have since moved into active partnership with the startup. Sony is charting the opposite course, doubling down on litigation to protect its catalog.
Industry watchers note the split highlights differing views on AI's long-term role. Major labels that settled gain equity or revenue shares while shaping training data policies; Sony appears determined to set precedent through the courts.
🚨 Broader Implications for AI Platforms
The filing arrives as AI music tools face intensified scrutiny. Similar suits against Suno remain active, and the outcome could reshape how generative models are trained industry-wide. Udio has yet to file its response but previously argued its technology creates transformative new works rather than copies.
Legal experts expect this case to turn on fair use questions around training data, with discovery potentially exposing exactly how Udio and competitors source their models. A ruling against Udio could force major retraining or licensing deals across the sector.
Bottom line: Sony's aggressive solo litigation against Udio exposes deep fractures in how music majors are approaching AI partnerships and could dictate training data standards for years.