Suno Subpoenas Apple in UMG Sony Lawsuit

On October 26, a Massachusetts federal magistrate judge cleared Universal Music Group and Sony Music to depose C.C. Gong, a former principal at Suno investor Menlo Ventures, over her since-deleted social media post stating she had “personally shifted most of [her] listening to Suno” because she “was so tired of Spotify giving [her] the same overplayed recommendations.”[[1]](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/universal-and-sony-cleared-to-depose-ex-menlo-ventures-exec-over-deleted-post-ive-personally-shifted-most-of-my-listening-to-suno/)[[2]](https://mubert.com/blog/suno-fair-use-defense-cc-gong-deposition)

⚖️ Why target a deleted investor post?

The deposition directly targets fair use factor four under US copyright law: the effect of Suno’s use on the potential market for or value of the copyrighted works. Labels view Gong’s statement as real-world evidence that AI music platforms can divert listening time and revenue from traditional streaming. The motion was granted the same day it was effectively argued, with the order allowing service of a Rule 30(b)(1) deposition subpoena and requiring the deposition within 30 days. Suno did not oppose the request.

🔎 What exactly does Suno want from Apple?

In a swift counter-move reported October 27, Suno served its own deposition subpoena on Apple. The tech giant is being asked to testify on four topics: whether Apple Music could remain commercially viable without major-label catalogs; details of its ongoing licensing, royalty, and generative-AI negotiations with UMG and Sony; royalty-calculation rules that treat AI-generated versus human recordings differently, including guaranteed minimums; and the prevalence of streaming fraud on the service plus any internal or external communications about Suno or the litigation.[[3]](https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2026/10/26/suno-files-subpoena-demands-apple/) Apple has already moved to quash, calling the requests “irrelevant, overbroad, and disproportionate,” noting it has cooperated for over a year and provided data on Suno-generated tracks. The motion to quash is scheduled for hearing December 1 before a new judge after a recent recusal.

📈 How does this change the legal battlefield?

These subpoenas illustrate how discovery has broadened beyond training data to real-world market impact and industry economics. The Gong deposition gives labels a human witness to pair with usage spreadsheets. Suno’s Apple subpoena seeks to demonstrate that major-label catalogs hold enormous power in streaming and that differential royalty treatment for AI content could reshape the entire market. A parallel dispute with the Mechanical Licensing Collective over play-volume data from 2021 onward remains unresolved. While earlier suits and rulings remain on file, these procedural wins and counters show both sides are still fighting aggressively over evidence that could decide fair-use viability for generative music models.

🎛️ What this means for your next song

Legal turbulence rarely pauses creative momentum. Suno v6 remains fully operational with its licensed-label training partnerships already in place for several majors, so the immediate workflow for most creators is unchanged: keep iterating. The uncertainty around ultimate licensing scope makes it smarter than ever to begin every session with a strong structural foundation rather than hoping raw generation will save you. Start by feeding the Song Genie a clear record name, target style, vocal personality, and chord roadmap so the kit it returns already respects form, energy, and arrangement before you even hit generate. Then layer in your own edits using section-specific prompts and clip stretching. This disciplined approach produces higher hit-rate outputs that stand up commercially even if platform terms evolve. Track official announcements closely; avoid relying on unverified “banned” or “safe” prompt lists circulating in communities.